MOSCOW, August 08./ITAR-TASS/. Russia supports actions which Iraqi authorities are taking in uncompromising fight against terrorists, Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

“We are still seriously concerned over an extremely tense situation persisting in Iraq,” the diplomatic agency said, adding that “Gunmen from Islamic State terrorist grouping continue spreading their control in the northwest of the country.” “Meanwhile, they have unleashed a campaign of unprecedented reprisals against representatives of religious and ethnic minorities, such as Christians, Kurds, Yezidi Kurds and Iraqi Turkmens living in these regions,” the ministry added, noting that “Extremists have taken under their control the city of Qaraqosh, one of historical centres of Iraqi Christian community.”

“Fearing purges by gunmen several tens of thousands of Yezidi Kurds had to leave their residence places in the area northwest of the city of Mosul,” Russian Foreign Ministry said, adding that “Many of them actually turned out to be in blockade in the highlands near the city of Sinjar without access to water, food and basic living conditions. According to some reports, around 50 were killed, including women and children.”

“The country’s government in Baghdad helps Yezidi Kurds who happened to be in an extremely hard situation,” Russian diplomatic agency said, adding that “Iraqi airplanes regularly ‘drop’ relief supplies in the highland district of Sinjar. The United States has also stated about similar measures.”

“Outrages committed by Islamic radicals should be condemned most decisively,” the diplomatic agency said, adding that “Current events in Iraq confirm once again that terrorism is absolute evil which should be fought in joint effort taken by all responsible representatives of world community, discarding any double standards.”

“We back Iraqi authorities’ actions in uncompromising fight against terrorists,” the Foreign Ministry said, noting that “We appeal to all Iraqi political forces to come to agreements in the spirit of a nationwide consensus which will allow giving an efficient rebuff to any manifestations of extremism and terrorism in Iraq.