UNITED NATIONS, March 6 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Iraq's leaders to protect civilians and promote dialogue after bombings killing more than 90 Shiite pilgrims.
"The secretary-general is outraged by the series of bomb attacks in Iraq today on pilgrims who were making their way to the holy city of Karbala," spokeswoman for Ban, Michele Montas, said Tuesday. "He condemns these heinous acts, which appear to be aimed at provoking sectarian strife."
Tuesday's wave of bombings in central Iraq killed at least 120 people and wounded more than 200 others. Two of the attacks involved suicide bombers wearing explosive belts who joined groups of pilgrims walking through the city of Hilla, about 80 miles south of Baghdad.
The attack killed more than 90 people and wounded 147 others and medical personnel said at least 40 of the wounded were in critical condition.
Appealing for "maximum restraint in the face of these criminal actions," Ban also called on the country's political and religious leaders "to exert their influence to protect civilian lives and to promote mutual respect and dialogue between all Iraqi communities."
