GENEVA
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday warned against sectarian rhetoric in Iraq after the recent upsurge of violence by terrorist groups including the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
"Sectarian rhetoric could further exacerbate the conflict and carry grave implications for the entire region," Ban said in a statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on Iraq.
Iraq has seen a marked increase in sectarian violence between Sunni and Shia Muslims in recent months, which the Iraqi government blames on Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
- Mass executions by ISIL
Ban said "Mass summary executions by ISIL are deeply disturbing and underscore the urgency of bringing the perpetrators of such crimes to justice."
The statement was published following the claim by ISIL of Sunday's execution of around 1,700 Shia soldiers.
In the statement, Ban called on all Iraqi political, military, religious and community leaders to ensure that their followers avoid acts of reprisal.
Ban urged Iraqi leaders to unite in a national security plan and also urged the international community to unite in showing solidarity with Iraq during the conflict.
The Secretary-General also reiterated his condemnation of the recent upsurge of violence in Iraq.
"The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) stands ready to assist the Government and people of Iraq in overcoming the crisis," he added.
Unrest in the north and west of Iraq began last week after the militant group ISIL, along with other armed groups seized the city of Mosul in northern Iraq’s Nineveh province.
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