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Moscow calls terror attacks in Baghdad and Istanbul cynical crimes with no excuse

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, these events once again confirm insistent need to immediately unite efforts of the global community in forming a common front of fight against terrorism

MOSCOW, January 12./TASS/. The recent terrorist attacks in Baghdad and Istanbul are cynical crimes, they confirm a need to join efforts of the world community in fight against terrorism, a statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

"In connection with a chain of terrorist attacks in Baghdad on January 11 and a blast in Istanbul on January 12, we express deep condolences to the next-of-kin of the dead and wish an early recovery to all those who were injured," the statement said.

"These cynical crimes that cannot be excused once again demonstrated inhumanity and cruelty of international terrorism," the ministry said. "All the more that civilians, including foreign nationals, fall the victim of its vile actions," the statement went on.

These events "once again confirm an insistent need to immediately join efforts of the global community in forming a united front of fight against terrorism, based on strict compliance with principles of international law and ruling out any use of double standards and approaches," the ministry said in its report.

At least 10 people were killed and 15 others injured in the explosion that ripped through a central square in Istanbul on Tuesday. The blast occurred at 10:20 local time (11:20 Moscow Time) in the Sultanahmet district, near the famous Blue Mosque and close to a tram stop. According to eyewitnesses, the explosion was very powerful and could be heard in the neighboring districts.

At least 51 people were killed in a series of terrorist attacks that rocked the Iraqi capital of Baghdad and two other towns on Monday.