KASPIYSK, April 5. /TASS/. Iraq, greatly harmed as a result of terrorist attacks itself, is ready to join forces with Russia in the fight against terrorism, ambassador Kahtan Taha Khalaf Janabi said during his visit to Dagestan.

On Friday, the head of Dagestan Sergey Melikov held a meeting with the ambassadors of nine Muslim countries who arrived in the republic on Thursday. The representatives of Bangladesh, Iraq, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan plan to take part in a collective iftar (a meal of repast in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan).

"I would like to express my gratitude to Russia for supporting Iraq. We have suffered a great deal from terrorist attacks and we know how much pain terrorism may cause. We are ready to join forces with Russia to fight this evil. We also support Palestine," the press service of the head of Dagestan quotes the Iraqi ambassador as saying.

The ambassador recalled that Iraq and Russia shared long-standing relations, which are 80 years old this year.

"We want to further develop them, including in the field of tourism," he added.

In their speeches, other representatives of Muslim countries also expressed condolences to Russia over the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall.

On the evening of March 22, a terrorist attack was carried out at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk near Moscow. According to the latest data, 144 people were killed and 551 others injured. Ten people have been arrested, including four direct perpetrators. Russia’s Investigative Committee said that it had proved the perpetrators’ connections with Ukrainian nationalists.