UN condemns Damascus bombings

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has described as appalling Saturday’s terrorists’ bombings in Damascus.

Guterres said those responsible for the attacks on the Syrian capital must be held accountable, according to a statement released by his Spokesman, Mr Stephane Dujarric,

“The Secretary-General is appalled by the utter disregard for human life displayed by the perpetrators.

“He extends his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, many of whom were pilgrims.

“Those responsible for the bombings, and anyone carrying out attacks against civilians, must be held accountable,” he said.

The twin blasts in Damascus killed about 50 Iraqi Shiite pilgrims and wounded 120 more, according to Iraq’s Foreign Ministry.

The explosions took place at the Bab al-Saghir Cemetery in the Syrian capital.

The attackers used improvised explosive devices, Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Jamal said.

The ministry said the pilgrims were visiting “holy shrines” at Bab al-Saghir, one of Syria’s largest and oldest cemeteries.

The Syrian government called the attacks “cowardly” acts of terror and asked the UN secretary-general and President of the UN Security Council to condemn them.

Damascus told the UN that all entities participating in the Russian-backed peace talks “distance themselves from the terror organisations.

The government demanded that countries backing terror groups, “mainly those of Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and some Western states, be compelled to stop all forms of support to these organisations”.