August 31, 2005 (3:10 p.m. EDT)
No. 158

STATEMENT BY MINISTER PETTIGREW ON TRAGEDY IN BAGHDAD

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew issued the following statement today following reports that more than 600 people have died in Baghdad:

“Canadians are profoundly moved by the scale of the human tragedy that occurred Wednesday in northern Baghdad, and I join them in offering condolences to the families of the hundreds of innocent victims who died while gathering for a religious ceremony.

“It seems that some of the events that contributed to this horrific tragedy were initiated by individuals without any respect for human life and with the sole objective of dragging Iraq into a civil war.

“Canada will continue to support the Iraqi authorities in their struggle to put an end to violence and to keep Iraq on the path to democracy and stability. The international community must remain united in its efforts to assist Iraqis determined to turn the page on a past marked by violence and to build a country that will ensure peace and prosperity for future generations.”

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