UNITED NATIONS, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council condemned on Wednesday the bombing of the holy shrines in the northern Iraqi city of Samarra.

    Members of the council condemned "in the strongest terms the abhorrent attack" on the holy shrines of Imam Ali Al-Hadi and Imam Hassan Al-Askary in Samarra, said a statement read out by Belgian ambassador Johan Verbeke, the council's president for June.

    The council called on all Iraqis to exercise restraint and reject this provocation, Verbeke said.

    The 15-member council reiterated their call upon the international community, particularly countries in the region, to support Iraq in its pursuit of peace, stability and prosperity, he said. ¡¡