BAGHDAD - Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki condemned a suicide attack inside Iraq's parliament building on Thursday as a "criminal and cowardly act" and vowed such violence would not weaken MPs' resolve.
"We strongly condemn this criminal and cowardly attack, and this mean act will not weaken the will of the representatives of the Iraqi people," Maliki said in a statement issued by his office.
The prime minister is currently in Seoul where he called on international bodies to help rebuild his war-torn country.
"Terrorist gangs committed a henious crime resulting in the martyrdom and injuries of some deputies," the statement from his office said.
"This crime confirms that the terrorists are targeting people through their representatives and they want to abort the democratic experience and hinder the political process" of Iraq.
At least three people were killed when a suicide bomber wearing an explosives vest and carrying a briefcase blew himself up in the cafeteria of the parliament building.
A security official told AFP two of the dead were lawmakers and the third a parliamentary employee, although state television said all three were MPs.
04/12/2007 13:58 GMT