Mon, October 26, 2009
BAGHDAD, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Top U.S. officials in Iraq condemned Sunday's deadly twin bombings in central Baghdad, calling on Iraqi people to work together to resist violence and intimidation attempts ahead of the country's national elections.
A joint statement by U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill and Top Commander of U.S. troops in Iraq General Ray Odierno said the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and multinational forces-Iraq "strongly condemn the bombings that took place this morning in Baghdad resulting in the deaths of scores of people and the wounding of hundreds of others."
The two top U.S. leaders in Iraq called on Iraqi people "to work together to combat all forms of violence and attempts at intimidation" at this crucial time ahead of the country's national elections due on Jan. 16, 2010.
The two also pledged to continue support to the Iraqi government in fighting terrorism as well as in bringing those who are responsible for Sunday's attacks to justice.
According to latest reports, two truck bombs coordinately exploded in downtown Baghdad on Sunday, killing at least 132 people and wounding some 512 others in an apparent attempt to shape a setback to the Iraqi government which struggles to restore normalcy in the country nearly three months ahead of the country's national elections.
The blasts came as violence dropped dramatically during the past two years since the spike of sectarian strife that claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the war-torn country.
