UK Foreign Office condemns Iraqi violence

The UK’s Foreign Office has formally condemned attacks in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk which killed 30 people and wounded 70 more on Sunday. The suicide car bomb hit a police headquarters building in Kirkuk, 290 kilometres north of Baghdad, as suicide attackers armed with machine-guns and hand grenades assaulted the building. Police officers reportedly killed all of the assailants before they were able to enter the building. “Yesterday’s appalling attack in Kirkuk was perpetrated by extremists who have no regard for human life and Iraq’s peace, stability and prosperity,” a Foreign Office spokesman said. “We continue to stand by the government of Iraq and all parties committed to Iraq’s democratic and peaceful future.” Iraq has witnessed a return of sectarian violence following a month-long dispute between tens of thousands of anti-government protesters nationwide, who are calling for the removal of Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki from power.