New York – Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople said the Philippines joins the international community in condemning the latest wave of deadly explosions which rocked Baghdad since Sunday killing an estimated 30 people and wounding more than 200 others.

Ople said efforts to rebuild Iraq by the world community under the leadership of the United Nations should be given a chance by Iraqi rebels.  He said the Red Cross, as an international humanitarian institution, should be spared from such violent and senseless attacks.

“These attacks will not stop the United Nations from implementing its most recent resolution which prevails upon the Iraqi Governing Council to hasten the conduct of elections in Iraq so that the Iraqis could now begin to govern themselves freely and responsibly,” Ople stressed.

It was reported that an ambulance packed with explosives ran into a barricade just outside the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross.  Three suicide bombings occurred at three Iraqi police stations, which led to the deaths of 16 people including eight Iraqi policemen.

On Sunday, US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz was unhurt in a rocket missile attack on al-Rashid Hotel where he was staying.  The attack killed one US soldier and wounded 15 other people.

Initial reports blamed “foreign fighters” for the new wave of bombings, which happened on the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.  END.