UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday urged all political and religious leaders in Iraq to calm the situation in a spirit of dialogue and mutual respect after the latest attack on a Shiite shrine in that country.

In a statement released by his spokesman, Annan expressed shock and sadness to learn of the bombing of the holy Shrine of Imam Ali- Hadi Mosque in Samarra, Iraq.

He vehemently condemned the attack, saying the bombing was clearly aimed at provoking sectarian strife and undermining further the peace and stability of Iraq.

Annan urged all political and religious leaders to "come together in a spirit of dialogue and mutual respect to calm the situation and dedicate their efforts to ensure the respect of human rights and the protection of places of worship."

"The United Nations will continue to do everything possible to assist the Iraqi people to promote inter-communal dialogue and national reconciliation," he added.

Earlier Wednesday, the holy Shiite mosque of Ali al-Hadi in Samarra, which contains tombs of the 10th and 11th of the Shiite's twelve most revered Imams, was attacked with its golden dome badly damaged.

Source: Xinhua