Saturday, April 8 2006 11:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has strongly condemned the bombing of a popular Shiite mosque in Baghdad which left nearly 80 people dead, saying it demonstrates that there are forces in Iraq determined to inflame sectarian violence.

"This attack and bombing near the holy shrine of Imam Ali .Clearly demonstrate that there are forces in Iraq determined to inflame sectarian violence and to exploit the current difficulties in forming the new government," he said in a statement condemning the incident 'in the strongest possible terms.'

The situation underscores the urgent need for political leaders to resolve their differences in the best interests of the nation, Annan's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Reconciling different sectors of Iraqi society in order to stop violence has been at the forefront of the efforts of Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, Annan's Special Representative in Iraq, the spokesman said.