Turkey voices concern over killings of Iraqi Turkmen

ANKARA

Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. REUTERS photo

Turkey has voiced concern and sadness over the killing of senior Iraqi Turkmen officials in a suicide bombing in the city of Tuz Khurmatu on June 25 in the wake of increasing violence across the country.

A declaration released following a bimonthly meeting of the National Security Council (MGK) on June 25 particularly emphasized the “deep sadness” over the killing of deputy head of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, Ali Haşim Muhtaroğlu. “The increasing violence and terror incidents in recent days have been condemned,” the MGK statement said. Two suicide bombers blew themselves up inside a tent packed with Turkmen protesters in the town, killing at least eight people and wounding 55.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry separately condemned the violence strongly. “The suicide attack in the Salahaddin province of Iraq, where most of the population is Turkmen, killed eight people including the deputy head of Iraqi Turkmen Front and deputy governor of Salahaddin, Ahmet Koca. We have learned about the incident sadly. We strongly condemn terror acts targeting Iraq’s peace and stability,” the statement said, adding that Turkey was ready to provide the necessary assistance for the people of Iraq.

President Abdullah Gül also sent a letter of condolence to Head of Iraqi Turkmen Front Arshad al-Salihi, expressing his strong condemnation. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu had a phone conversation with the family of Muhtaroğlu. “I talked with Mr. Muhtaroğlu’s family. From now on they belong to us,” Davutoğlu wrote on his Twitter account.