UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday expressed deep concern about the upsurge of violence throughout Iraq that has left many dead and hundreds injured over the past week.

Ban called on the Iraqi Security Forces to exert utmost restraint in maintaining law and order and urged the demonstrators to preserve the peaceful nature of their protests, said a statement issued here by his spokesperson.

"The Secretary-General welcomes the successful meeting between the representatives of the demonstrators, local officials and the Iraqi Security Forces which has defused tensions in Ramadi, Anbar Governorate," said the statement.

Week-long deadly violence across the country broke out after the April 20 local polls and clashes erupted last Tuesday between Iraqi security forces and anti-government Sunni protesters in Hawijah, some 220 km north of Baghdad, where hundreds of security members backed by helicopters stormed a sit-in by Sunni Arabs.

At least 50 people were killed and more than 150 others wounded in the clashes, which sparked further violence across Iraq, mostly in the Sunni areas in northern and western Iraq.

In the statement, the UN chief urged all Iraqi leaders to "come together and engage in constructive and inclusive dialogue with the firm determination of overcoming the deep political crisis the country is facing."

Ban also expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wishes the wounded a speedy recovery, the statement said.

He reiterated the commitment of the United Nations "to support and assist the government and people of Iraq in building a peaceful, democratic and prosperous country." Endi

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