UNITED NATIONS, April 6 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on Monday strongly condemned a string of deadly bombings that left at least 34 people killed in a marketplace and other locations in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.

    "The secretary-general strongly condemns the string of bombings that struck a marketplace and other locations in Baghdad today, killing a large number of civilians and injuring many others," a statement issued here by Ban's spokesperson Michele Montas said.

    "The secretary-general extends his condolences to the families of the deceased," the statement said.

    At present, Ban is in Turkey to attend the UN-backed Second Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations, slated for April 6 in Istanbul, which is aimed at bridging divisions between the Islamic countries and the Western nations.

    "The secretary-general is confident that the people of Iraq will reject these reprehensible attempts to provoke sectarian violence in the country," the statement said.

    "He urges them to continue undeterred in their efforts to achieve lasting peace and national reconciliation," the statement said. "The United Nations remains committed to supporting the Iraqi people toward these ends."