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Iraq

Iraq: In wake of killings, local NGOs condemn violence

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]
BAGHDAD, 13 March (IRIN) - NGOs operating in Iraq have called for an end to violence and for greater respect for human rights, following the death of a kidnapped American peace activist in the country.

"NGOs in Iraq would like to take this opportunity following this recent execution to strongly denounce the outbreak of violence.which is destroying and dividing Iraqi communities," said the Baghdad-based NGO Coordination Committee in Iraq (NCCI) in a 13 March press statement. "This cycle of violence is against the interest of the population and for the personal advantage of few."

On 9 March, the body of American peace activist Tom Fox was found in the Mansour district of the capital, Baghdad. Fox, who had been shot dead by unknown assailants, was among four peace activists from the Christian Peacemaker Teams organisation kidnapped in Iraq last November. While the three remaining hostages - a Briton and two Canadians - appeared in a video tape released on 7 March, Fox did not feature in it.

According to statements by the US State Department, it is not known why Fox was killed. Meanwhile, there has been no more information as to the condition or whereabouts of the remaining three hostages.

Iraqi rights activists have also suffered from frequent violence and kidnappings. "Every day, dozens of innocent people who are not related to the conflict are killed," read the NCCI statement. "Last week, two of them were identified as aid workers."

According to NCCI Information Officer Frederic Turlam, the dire security situation has significantly hampered the ability of humanitarian organisations to extend assistance to the civilian population. "One of our main problems is the lack of security, which prevents humanitarian workers from accessing the population," said Turlam, speaking from Amman. "The main problem faced by humanitarian operations working here is that they aren't respected by anyone."

In its press statement, the NCCI called for the release of "all aid workers and other innocent people still abducted or detained in Iraq". Aid workers are present in the country, it added, "to save lives of the local population and support Iraq's recovery, not to be targeted".

According to the NCCI, at least 50 aid workers have been killed in Iraq since the US-led invasion and occupation of the country in 2003.

[ENDS]