Iraq: Amnesty condemns the attack on Red Cross

Iraq: Amnesty International condemns the attack on the International Committee of the Red Cross

Amnesty International condemns in the strongest terms today's suicide bomb attack on the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Baghdad which killed at least 12 people and injured 15.

"Armed groups must end the policy of targeting Iraqi civilians and international humanitarian agencies who are trying to provide help and assistance to a devastated country," said Amnesty International.

On 27 October at 8:30 am local time, a hospital ambulance sped towards the ICRC building in Baghdad and crashed at the front gate of the building in what appeared to be a suicide bomb attack deliberately targeting the ICRC.

"Civilians must never be the targets of indiscriminate attacks by armed groups that have so far claimed the lives of scores of innocent," said Amnesty International.

In recent weeks armed groups and individuals stepped up their bombing campaign against Coalition forces, Iraqi police stations, international humanitarian agencies and Iraqi civilians working with the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). This latest attack comes only over two months after the attack on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad which left 22 people dead and many injured.

"This attack is a major setback for the human rights and humanitarian efforts underway in Iraq," said Amnesty International. "Those responsible for this crime must be brought to justice and tried according to international human rights standards."

For more information please see:

http://amnesty-news.c.tep1.com/maabBjEaa1El3bb0hPub/

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