UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday asked the Iraqi government to begin "without further delay" the resettlement of hundreds of Iranian exiles living in Camp Ashraf before the site is to be closed in April, dpa reported.
The closing of the camp, in Diyala province north-east of Baghdad, had been set for the end of December but was extended to the end April at Baghdad's request. The camp was raided by Iraqi security forces last year trying to disband it, resulting in more than 30 residents killed.
Ban said Baghdad "bears the primary responsibility for the security and the welfare of the residents of Camp Ashraf. At the same time, the residents of Camp Ashraf also bear a responsibility to abide by the laws of Iraq. Any provocation or violence must be avoided and would be unacceptable."
The UN mission in Iraq and the UN refugee agency are cooperating with Baghdad to resettle the camp's residents, who are mostly opposed to Tehran, to third countries.
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