ANKARA
Turkey's Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned bombing attacks targeting Iraq's Parliament Speaker and an Iraqi Turkmen Front leader.
In a statement released Monday, the Ministry said: "Turkey strongly condemns those who target the unity of the Iraqi people by leading to clashes among ethnic, religious and sectarian groups, and expresses its condolences to the Iraqi people for the dead and wounded."
Parliament Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi survived an assassination attempt Monday in the northern city of Mosul, and the Iraqi Turkmen Front's Saladdin provincial head Heytem Muhtaroglu survived an armed attack Sunday in which five Shitte Turkmen security officers were killed.
US also condemns attack on Iraqi Speaker's convoy
The U.S. State Department has condemned Monday's attack on Iraqi Council of Representatives Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi.
“The United States strongly condemns today’s attack on the convoy of the Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, Osama al-Nujaifi, in Ninewa province,” said State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf in a statement released to the press.
Al-Nujaifi's convoy was struck by a roadside bomb in the northern city of Mosul on Monday.
According to Iraqi police, two of his guards were injured, but al-Nujaifi escaped unharmed.
Harf added: “Today’s attack exemplifies the danger terrorist groups pose to all Iraqis, and the importance of Iraqi leaders from all communities working together to isolate militant groups from the broader population.”
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack on al-Nujaifi.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
