UN, Amnesty condemn ongoing terrorist attacks targeting civilians in Iraq by UN News / Amnesty International 4:16pm 20th Aug, 2005   17 August 2005    United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan denounced the bombings in Baghdad today that killed at least 43 people and wounded many more.    “He strongly condemns these attacks, which appear to have been coordinated to hurt as many innocent civilians as possible, including by obstructing medical access, in violation of all humanitarian principles,” a statement issued by his spokesman said. “The Secretary-General conveys his deepest sympathy to the families of the victims.”    4 August 2005    Condemning the recent wave of "horrific" terror attacks in Iraq, the United Nations Security Council today called on Member States to cooperate in stanching the flow of terrorists in and out of Iraq and preventing the disruption of the ongoing political process.    "Acts of terrorism must not be allowed to disrupt Iraq's political and economic transition currently taking place, including the constitutional drafting process and its referendum," the Council affirmed.    Through the unanimous adoption of resolution 1618 of 2005, the Council also strongly urged Member States to prevent the trafficking in arms and the financing that supported terrorists, and it emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation of countries in the region for that purpose.    It labelled as "shameless and horrific" the attacks of recent weeks that have resulted in the deaths of children, electoral workers, constitutional experts, diplomats and other Iraqi and foreign civilians.    The Council called on the international community to fully support the Iraqi Government in its obligation to protect the diplomatic community, UN staff and other foreign civilian personnel working in the country. In particular, the Council noted with great concern that attacks on foreign diplomats had increased in number, often resulting in abduction and murder.    July 23, 2005    "Armed Groups in Iraq show utter disdain for Basic Principles of Humanity " by Amnesty International.    Armed groups opposed to the US-led multinational force and Iraq's government are showing utter disdain for the lives of Iraqi civilians and others, continuing a pattern of war crimes and crimes against humanity, Amnesty International said in a new report published today.    At the end of one of the most deadly months since the beginning of the war in Iraq in March 2003, Amnesty International denounced the armed groups' failure to abide by even the most basic standards of humanitarian law and said there can be no valid justification for deliberate killings of civilians, hostage-taking, and torture and killing of defenseless prisoners.    "Those who order or commit such atrocities place themselves totally beyond the pale of acceptable behavior," said Amnesty International. "There is no honor nor heroism in blowing up people going to pray or murdering a terrified hostage. Those carrying out such acts are criminals, nothing less, whose actions undermine any claim they may have to be pursuing a legitimate cause. "    In its 56-page report, Iraq, In Cold Blood: Abuses by Armed Groups, Amnesty International recognizes that many Iraqis oppose the continuing presence of US and allied forces in their country, and that these forces have themselves committed grave violations, including killings of civilians and torture of prisoners.    "But abuses committed by one side do not and can not justify abuses by another," said Amnesty International. "This is all the more the case when the principal victims are ordinary Iraqi men, women and children attempting peacefully to go about their everyday lives. All sides to the ongoing conflict have a fundamental obligation to respect the rights of civilians or of those who are rendered defenseless. Those who breach this obligation, on which ever side they stand, must be made to stop and they must be held to account."    In its report, Amnesty International cites an Iraqi government minister's claim, made last April, that 6,000 civilians had been killed and another 16,000 wounded in attacks by armed groups in the 24 months up to March 2005. Yet, the attacks are so frequent and the security situation so grave, it is impossible to calculate with any confidence the true toll upon the civilian population let alone the long term consequences that so many Iraqis will inevitably suffer.    "We urge armed groups to immediately cease all attacks against civilians and all other abuses" said Amnesty International. "Armed groups, like other parties to the conflict in Iraq, are required to comply strictly with international law in all their acts and remain accountable for their actions."    Amnesty International is also asking key religious leaders and other influential figures in Iraq and beyond to speak out against the indefensible and make clear that there can be no circumstances at all that allow or justify war crimes and crimes against humanity.    "We earnestly hope that these leaders, by speaking out publicly or through other more discreet means, can help to make the difference," said Amnesty International. "If we and they fail, it will be Iraqi civilians who first and foremost will continue to pay the awful price."
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