United Nations Radio

The Secretary-General special envoy of for Iraq, has strongly condemned Thursday's bombing in Sadr City, and a string of bombings and shootings throughout Iraq.

Staffan de Mistura

More than 70 people are reported to have been killed in the bombing in the Sadr City neighbourhood of Baghdad.

Staffan de Mistura, who was currently in New York to brief the Security Council, says he is outraged by the bombing which came as United States troops pulled back from urban centres of Iraq.

The United Nations envoy says nothing can excuse this deliberate attempt to kill large numbers of men, women and students and children.

Certain groups whose aim is to kill innocent civilians, he says, are trying to take advantage of this impending change in security arrangements in Iraq.

According to Mr. de Mistura, their aim is to provoke a violent response between communities, hoping to return to what he calls "the dark days of 2006."

He appeals to all communities in Iraq not to fall into the killer's trap and to avoid responding to this provocation with sectarian hatred and violence.

Mr. de Mistura extends the United Nations sincere condolences to the bereaved families and wishes for the full and speedy recovery of the wounded.

Diane Bailey, United Nations.

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