UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned that the gravity of the political and security challenges in Iraq may have “devastating and lasting” implications for the county’s long-term stability, unless they are addressed “soon.” In a report to the Security Council issued on Wednesday, Ban said those challenges require “all political, religious and civic leaders to fulfill their responsibilities in overcoming this current crisis in unified manner. A national dialogue among the political forces… is more urgent than ever.”
The UN chief emphasized Iraq is witnessing deteriorating security in the past months, adding from 2008 to this day 2013 was the bloodiest year so far, Al Jazeera TV reported.
The Security Council is scheduled to discuss this report on March 27.