From correspondents in Baghdad, Iraq, 09:02 PM IST

Iraq's President Jalal Talabani Friday condemned the killing of Shia lawmaker Saleh al-Ugaily by militants Thursday and called on all Iraqis to join forces against terrorism.

'We have received with deep sadness the news of the martyrdom of Saleh al-Ugaily, a lawmaker from Sadr political movement,' Talabani said in a statement Friday.

Ugaily died Thursday after his motorcade was hit by a roadside bomb in Habibiyah neighbourhood in eastern part of the Iraqi capital.

Two of his bodyguards were also killed in the attack.

All Iraqis must unite in the fight against terrorism, the statement quoted Talabani as saying.

'Those who committed this heinous crime are the enemies of the Iraqis,' he said.

On Friday, thousands of people loyal to Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr took to the streets in eastern Baghdad to condemn and mourn the killing of Ugaily.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)