UN seeks help to curb attacks on academics in Iraq

[ECH1969]

Warning that the targeting of academics by insurgents could undercut Iraq's long tradition of learning excellence, the United Nations has sought international help to stop persecution of educators and intellectuals in the country.

The world body estimates that some 170 academics have been killed and thousands forced to flee the country as a result of violence against intellectuals since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.

"The right to education is a basic human right and the persecution of custodians of knowledge and skills is an unacceptable attack against the whole society," the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) chief Koichiro Matsuura said yesterday.

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