Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi in a telephone conversation with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on Sunday discussed the latest developments in Iraq

According to the Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Bureau, Kharrazi voiced concern over the increase in the number of civilians casualties in Iraq and underlined the pivotal role of the United Nations to end the war. He added that increase in number of civilian casualties is not considered as a victory but it will be considered a human catastrophe instead and will raise the ire of the Islamic nations towards the occupation of Iraq by foreigners. Underlining the significant attention paid by the Shiite Muslims on the sanctity of the holy places in Iraq, Kharrazi called for respecting and safeguarding these holy sites. The Britain foreign secretary, for his part, underlined the need to safeguard the holy places in Iraq.