Russia calls for political wisdom in Iraq

Moscow, Apr 3: Russia has urged the main political forces in Iraq to seek national reconciliation in the wake of a recent wave of violence in the country.

''We are urging all influential politicians and religious leaders in Iraq to display political wisdom to overcome differences, sit down at the negotiating table and take responsibility for the future of the country,'' the official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Kamynin said in a statement.

He was referring to last week's suicide truck bombing, the bloodiest since 2003 in Iraq. More than 150 people were killed in the suicide bombing in Tal Afar near Baghdad on March 27, and at least another 300 died in terrorist acts and clashes between religious factions throughout the country.

''Overall, more than 2,500 people, mainly civilians, died in Iraq in March. This number is higher, much higher than in previous months,'' Mr Kamynin said.

''It is proving impossible to stop the wave of violence sweeping over the country, despite efforts by local authorities and coalition troops carrying out a UN peacekeeping mandate to provide security in Iraq,'' he noted.

He said the Iraqi authorities, under the guidance of the international community, must open dialogue between representatives of various ethnic and religious groups to develop a model for civilised coexistence, which would consider the interests of all communities living in the country.

UNI