UN envoy condemns violence in Basra

BAGHDAD - The United Nations special envoy to Iraq Jan Kubis on Saturday condemned violence and riots in Iraq's southern province of Basra, and urged Iraqi authorities to ensure law and order.

In a statement by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, Kubis condemned "attacks on government, political parties' and media offices, hospitals, oil installation and the airport, the ransacking of the Iranian consulate and public and private property".

He expressed his full support to legitimate demands in peaceful way of the protesters, and calls on the Iraqi government to take all necessary steps to protect diplomatic and consular premises, as well as public and private property.