MOSCOW. May 18 (Interfax) - The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned terror attacks in Iraq, which claimed up to 70 lives.
"The atrocities committed by extremists in Iraq are strongly condemned by Moscow. We express our condolences to the families and friends of the victims and wish the soonest recovery to the injured," the ministry's information and press department said in a commentary published on the ministry website.
The ministry presumed that the explosions in Iraq were staged by the ISIL terrorist organization (banned in Russia).
"Judging by their style, this terrorist group is also behind the latest bloody crimes," the commentary said.
"The confessional motivation for those barbaric actions, which are destroying the already fragile ethnic and religious structure of Iraqi society in the hard times, is a source of particular concern," the ministry said. It urged "all Iraqis, irrespective of their political convictions, confessional and ethnic identity, to show maximum restraint and self-control and to prevent further spiraling of violence and mutual animosity."
"We reaffirm the imperative of consolidation of broad international efforts in the deterrence of terrorist threats coming from ISIL, al-Qaeda and similar groups," the ministry said.
The explosions of two bombs in Baghdad killed at least 69 people and injured dozens on Tuesday.
A suicide bomber blew himself up at a marketplace in northern Baghdad, killing 34 people and injuring 75.
A car bomb exploded in the city's south, killing nine people and injuring 18.
No one has claimed responsibility for the terror attacks as of yet.