UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday congratulated Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abad on re-taking most of the Ramadi city from the Islamic State terror group, according to a satatement issued by the UN office.
In a call with the Iraqi prime minister, Ban noted that the liberation of Ramadi was an important victory and stressed the need for measures to be taken to restore the rule of law as well as basic services in Ramadi as to allow for the return of internally displaced persons as soon as possible, said the office.
Expressing his concern over the recent abduction of a group of Qatari citizens in Iraq, including children, Ban urged al-Abadi to do everything possible to ensure their prompt and safe release, it said.
After re-taking most of the key city of Ramadi from IS militants, al-Abadi flew to the western city of Ramadi on Tuesday to celebrate its liberation.