Thursday, April 6 2006 11:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New York: Warning that the targeting of academics by insurgents could undercut Iraq's long tradition of learning excellence, the United Nations has sought international help to stop persecution of educators and intellectuals in the country.

The world body estimates that some 170 academics have been killed and thousands forced to flee the country as a result of violence against intellectuals since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Meanwhile, the Geneva-based Study and Research Center for Arab and Mediterranean World said that four academics, including one physician, were killed just last week.

"The right to education is a basic human right and the persecution of custodians of knowledge and skills is an unacceptable attack against the whole society," the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) chief Koichiro Matsuura said yesterday (Apr 5, 2006).

"Iraq has a long tradition in learning and academic excellence in the Middle East. By targeting those who hold the keys to Iraq's reconstruction and development, the perpetrators of this violence are jeopardising the future of Iraq and of democracy," he added.

UNESCO is currently involved with Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education to help reconstruct the country's higher education system.

Matsuura said he would discuss the issue during a meeting next week with Iraq's UNESCO Ambassador Muhyi Alkateeb and members of the International Committee for the Protection of Iraqi Academics.