Mottaki expresses sympathy with Iraqi people

Tehran, Dec 8, IRNA – Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, in a telephone conversation with his Iraqi counterpart, condemned Baghdad blasts and expressed sympathy with Iraqi nation and government.

According to the Foreign Ministry Media Department, Mottaki in his conversation with Hoshyar Zebari, concerning today's blasts in Baghdad, said that 'Iran strongly condemns the blasts' which caused killing of a number of innocent people.

He also expressed Iranian government and nation condolences to the Iraqi government and nation and the bereaved families.

Referring to such criminal acts, he pointed out that such terrorist acts on the eve of Iraq National Assembly election, which is an important step toward consolidating government in that country, shows the highest degree of hostility of terrorists with people of Iraq.

He added such blind actions cannot disrupt Iraqi nation intention to achieve independence and consolidation of legal institutions but make them more determined to establish security and consolidation of democratic institutions in their own country.

Mottaki also expressed Iran's readiness to present humanitarian assistance to the victims of the terrorist blasts.

Zebari, for his part, thanked Mottaki for his call and expressed hope that by strengthening solidarity among Iraqi people, the terrorists would not be able to create insecurity in Iraq./end