BAGHDAD, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Iraq on Wednesday strongly condemned the terrorist attack outside a Sufi shrine in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore that killed and wounded dozens of people.

"Iraq strongly condemns the terrorist attack, and stresses that the principles of Islam are to save lives, spread peace, and promote cooperation among humans, not killing, destruction or creating chaos among people," said Ahmed al-Sahaf, spokesman of the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, in a statement.

He said that Iraq has fought, and is still in war against terrorism and extremism, calling on all states and organizations to stand firm against the global terrorist threat, according to the statement.

Earlier in the day, a suicide bomber blew up his explosive-laden jacket near a vehicle of police commandoes outside the crowded Data Darbar shrine located in the downtown of Lahore, leaving at least eight people, including five policemen, killed and some 25 others wounded.