Turkey condemns Daesh attack in Iraq

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey on Thursday strongly condemned Wednesday's deadly Daesh terror attack on a group of Iraqi Turkmen who were going from Baghdad to Erbil to attend Nevruz celebrations.

"We learned with deep sorrow that a Daesh terrorist attack perpetrated against a group of Iraqi Turkmen going from Baghdad to Erbil for Nevruz celebrations, resulted in loss of lives and left others wounded," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"We expect necessary measures to be taken by the relevant Iraqi authorities as soon as possible in order to eliminate the security threats against Iraqi Turkmen, who have recently been subjected to attacks by various terrorist groups," statement added.

The ministry also wished a "speedy recovery to the wounded" and also offered "condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this heinous terrorist attack."

The Nevruz festival on March 21 has been celebrated for more than 18 centuries across Anatolia and Asia.

The March 21 festival is celebrated mainly in Iran, Afghanistan, India, and Turkic republics such as Azerbaijan, Caucasus countries, Albania and Macedonia.

The festival -- which is considered as a forerunner of spring -- is a UN-recognized international cultural day.