Most of the bombs targeted
Shia-dominated areas in the
capital, Baghdad (bdnews25.wapamp.com/Dhaka)
At least 50 people have been
killed following a series of car
bombs mainly targeting Shia
areas of the Iraqi capital
Baghdad, officials say. About 100 people were
injured, police sources told the
BBC. The attacks came on the
10th anniversary of the US-
led campaign in Iraq that
toppled Saddam Hussein. Iraq's cabinet said it was
delaying provincial elections
scheduled for 20 April by up
to six months because of the
security situation. Violence in Iraq has
decreased sharply from its
peak in 2006-2007, but a
low-level Sunni insurgency
continues, with an average of
more than 300 people killed each month. On Monday, a total of 10
car bombs were set off,
officials said. The first attacks came during
the morning rush hour, with
bombs set off near busy
areas including a market,
street restaurants, and bus
stops. Later, BBC reporters heard a
further explosion, and saw a
plume of black smoke was
seen over the capital, and
police reported further
bombings. Districts across Baghdad were
hit by car bombs and an
explosive device stuck to a
vehicle, while a suicide
bomber and further car bombs
hit a town south of the capital, officials said. Police also said three
improvised explosive devices
(IEDs) had been set off
and guns fired in the northern
region of Kirkuk. The attacks came amid
heightened security in
Baghdad, including newly
formed checkpoints, Agence
France-Presse reported. No-one has said they carried
out the attacks, though the
Iraqi branch of al-Qaeda,
Islamic State of Iraq, has
launched a number of high-
profile bombings this year. Sunni militants have frequently
targeted civilians and state
officials as they seek to
destabilise the country and
weaken the Shia-led
government of Nouri al-Maliki. Iraqis, who are in the midst
of a political crisis, do not
generally mark the anniversary
of the US-led invasion.
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