Ban condemns Diyala market explosion

UN Secretary General Ban Ki­moon condemned in the strongest terms the devastating bomb attack that shook a busy market in Khan Bani Saad, an Iraqi town north of the capital Baghdad.

In a statement, Ban's spokesman said that the attack, which came at a time when the Iraqi people are celebrating the end of the holy month of Ramadan, reportedly left over 100 civilians killed and many more injured, including children.

His thoughts and prayers, the statement added, are with the victims and their families, and hoped that "the perpetrators of this heinous crime are swiftly brought to justice." Nevertheless, Ban stands in solidarity with the people and Government of Iraq, it concluded. On July 17, a deadly car blast that hit Khan Bani Saad suburb left more than 230 people dead and over 100 others injured.