Wave of bombings hits cities in Iraq
Source: Agencies |
August 16, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
BOMB blasts ripped through more than a dozen Iraqi cities yesterday, killing 60 people in the worst attacks this year.
The blasts were coordinated, and included parked car bombs, roadside bombs, a suicide bomber driving into a police station and bombs attached to lampposts.
There were seven explosions in various towns in Diyala province alone.
Iraqis voiced fury at security officials and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Ali Jumaa Ziad, a shop-owner in Kut, where the worst of the violence occurred, said: "Where is the government with all these explosions across the country? Where is al-Maliki? Why does he not come to see?"
Spokesmen for the Iraqi authorities did not answer telephone calls.
Twin explosions rocked the market in Kut, 160 kilometers southeast of Baghdad.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Dhurgam Mohammed Hassan said the first bomb went off in a drinks refrigerator. As rescuers gathered, a car bomb exploded - 35 people were killed and 64 injured.
Earlier this month, Iraqi political leaders announced they will begin negotiations with the US to determine whether to keep a small number of US forces in the country past December 31.
All US troops must leave by the end of this year, but both Iraqi and US officials have expressed concern about the ability of Iraqi forces to protect the country.
Theodore Karasik, a Middle East security expert at the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analyst, said al-Qaida in Iraq is trying to disrupt the internal Iraqi political process and send a message to the US.
He said: "It seems al-Qaida in Iraq is playing a propaganda game at the same time it is trying to show that it can still carry out deadly violence.
"If the US extends its military presence, al-Qaida in Iraq can use it as a tool by saying, 'Look, the Americans have reversed their decision to leave and are staying on as occupiers.' They could use this as a justification for more attacks."
In Diyala province, seven bombs went off in the capital of Baquba and towns nearby, according to Faris al-Azawi, the province's health spokesman. Five soldiers were killed in Baquba and five people were killed in other attacks around the province.
Outside the city of Najaf, a suicide car bomber ran into a checkpoint at a police building. Four people were killed and 32 were injured.
The blasts were coordinated, and included parked car bombs, roadside bombs, a suicide bomber driving into a police station and bombs attached to lampposts.
There were seven explosions in various towns in Diyala province alone.
Iraqis voiced fury at security officials and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Ali Jumaa Ziad, a shop-owner in Kut, where the worst of the violence occurred, said: "Where is the government with all these explosions across the country? Where is al-Maliki? Why does he not come to see?"
Spokesmen for the Iraqi authorities did not answer telephone calls.
Twin explosions rocked the market in Kut, 160 kilometers southeast of Baghdad.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Dhurgam Mohammed Hassan said the first bomb went off in a drinks refrigerator. As rescuers gathered, a car bomb exploded - 35 people were killed and 64 injured.
Earlier this month, Iraqi political leaders announced they will begin negotiations with the US to determine whether to keep a small number of US forces in the country past December 31.
All US troops must leave by the end of this year, but both Iraqi and US officials have expressed concern about the ability of Iraqi forces to protect the country.
Theodore Karasik, a Middle East security expert at the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analyst, said al-Qaida in Iraq is trying to disrupt the internal Iraqi political process and send a message to the US.
He said: "It seems al-Qaida in Iraq is playing a propaganda game at the same time it is trying to show that it can still carry out deadly violence.
"If the US extends its military presence, al-Qaida in Iraq can use it as a tool by saying, 'Look, the Americans have reversed their decision to leave and are staying on as occupiers.' They could use this as a justification for more attacks."
In Diyala province, seven bombs went off in the capital of Baquba and towns nearby, according to Faris al-Azawi, the province's health spokesman. Five soldiers were killed in Baquba and five people were killed in other attacks around the province.
Outside the city of Najaf, a suicide car bomber ran into a checkpoint at a police building. Four people were killed and 32 were injured.
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