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Iran slams church attack in Iraq

Iran Materials 3 November 2010 04:22 (UTC +04:00)
Iran has condemned a hostage situation at an Iraqi church which left more than 50 people killed, saying the attack was aimed at delaying the formation of the country's new government, Press TV reported.
Iran slams church attack in Iraq

Iran has condemned a hostage situation at an Iraqi church which left more than 50 people killed, saying the attack was aimed at delaying the formation of the country's new government, Press TV reported.

On Sunday, a group of armed men took more than 100 worshippers at Baghdad's Sayidat al-Nejat Catholic Church hostage.

The incident, which lasted nearly four hours, left at least 52 people dead and over 60 others injured.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast offered his condolences to the bereaved families on Tuesday and said that the attack was part of renewed attempts to stall the process of establishing a new Iraqi government.

"Terrorist groups, with the help of foreigners, have taken advantage of the political vacuum as well as the delay in formation of the new government in Iraq, to launch a new round of acts of sabotage," Mehmanparast in a statement.

He added that the terrorists seek to "pressure the government" and "gain political privileges" through their destructive action.

"Experience has shown that whenever Iraqi politicians have come close to practical and logical solutions to form a national unity government, terrorist groups... have made attempts to counter them."

Iraq has been the scene of almost daily attacks over the past weeks, resulting in the death and injury of many civilians and security forces.

In the latest such incidents, more than 100 people were killed in over 15 coordinated bomb attacks in and around the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Tuesday, a Press TV correspondent reported.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman also called on Iraqi lawmakers to form a government as soon as possible, saying that any further delay "will set the stage for the meddling of occupiers and would cause [the Iraqis] to view the government with cynicism and distrust."

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