Iraq governor appeals for calm in Diyala

Governor of Iraq's Diyala province Omar al-Hamiry said on Tuesday that certain areas in the city of Baqouba have recently witnessed brutal massacres committed by violent groups that kill innocent people in order to impose their own agenda on Iraqi communities. He called on the residents of the areas  to help bring an end to the bloodshed by cooperating with the security forces. He also asked relevant authorities to take the strongest measures in dealing with the violence. The governor warned against ignoring the recent events, adding that it would only lead to more carnage. He stressed that the violent groups are trying to achieve their objectives by wreaking havoc in the province.