July 4, 2016 - 18:47 AMT
Armenia expresses condolences to Iraq over deadly Baghdad bombing

President Serzh Sargsyan on Monday, July 4 sent a letter of condolences to Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi over the deadly bombing that rocked Baghdad on Sunday.

Iraqis on Monday mourned more than 200 people killed in the suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State group.

“Armenia strongly condemns terrorism whose aim is to incite instability in Iraq and the whole region,” Sargsyan said in the letter.

“This horrendous act during the month of Ramadan has no justification. In this time of sorrow and grief, I express heartfelt condolences to you, the Iraqi people and the families of the victims.”

IS claimed the attack in a statement saying it was carried out by an Iraqi as part of "ongoing security operations".

The jihadist group said the blast targeted Iraq's Shiite Muslim majority, whom the Sunni extremists consider heretics and frequently attack in Baghdad and elsewhere.