Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi Thursday expressed hatred towards the sacrilege of the holy sites as well as exacerbation of US attacks in Najaf and Kut which killed many innocent Iraqi civilians and called the operation as "inhuman and horrible," which is in contradiction with all international norms.
"The US invaders have proved that they are not abiding by any ethical principles and their recent atrocities are unjustifiable," he said, adding that this has once again "unveiled the mask from the face of occupiers who disguise themselves as harbingers of democracy."
Expressing strong concern over exacerbation of situation in Iraq, he said adopting a wrong military and security policy, continued presence of foreign forces as well as delay in transfer of power to people in Iraq are the root cause of this crisis which has hurt the sentiment of the Islamic World, IRNA reported.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Abdollah Nasseri Taheri Thursday called for immediate release of abducted IRNA correspondent in Baghdad and his colleagues.
In a letter to Iraq's Minister of Culture Mufid Muhammad Jawad al-Jazairi, Nasseri pointed out that the head of IRNA office in Baghdad, Mostafa Darban, along with his two Iraqi colleagues were arrested by Iraqi police three days ago.
He also noted that Darban was in Baghdad in order to give coverage to the current developments in that country. The IRNA staff's residence in Iraq was on the basis of the country`s legal regulations, the letter added.
Nasseri also reminded the Iraqi minister of his duty to protect lives of foreign reporters and asked him to take the needed steps for the speedy release of Darban and his colleagues. (albawaba.com)
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