By Country / Iraq
Iraqi Parliament Holds Special Session Following Attack
April 13, 2007
Iraq's parliament in session (file photo) (epa)
The U.S. military said the blast killed eight people, including two Sunni legislators, and wounded more than 20 others.
It was a major security breach in the heavily guarded Green Zone in Baghdad that houses parliament, government offices, and foreign embassies.
An aide to parliament speaker Mahmud Mashhadani said the session would start at 11 a.m. local time and was expected to condemn the blast.
International Condemnation
U.S. President George W. Bush denounced what he called an attack on a symbol of democracy, and said the United States stood with the Iraqi people.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that "I am again deeply troubled by all the continuing violence, particularly again this time the attack on the Iraqi parliament in the Green Zone. Such violence, whatever the motives may be, cannot be justified, can never be justified."
Britain and the Arab League also spoke out against the attack.
(Reuters, AFP)