Thursday, February 23, 2012

Fresh wave of bombings kills dozens in Baghdad

A fresh wave of bombings in the Iraqi capital Baghdad and other areas has killed about 30 people and injured dozens. According to police, the attacks have been a coordinated effort by the armed groups in the country.

Most of the attacks have taken place within a two-hour time frame. No militant group claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The initial reports are unclear, but the death toll is expected to be higher.

Iraqi media reported that At least 21 people were killed and 39 injured as a result of more than 10 bomb blasts in Baghdad.

Two car bombs exploded this morning near Kahraman Square in Karrada, central Baghdad. A third car bomb explosion hit the same area, leaving more than 30 people dead or injured.

Another car bomb exploded near Arab Fares Square in Mansur district, west of Baghdad, killing seven people and wounding seven more.

A car bomb exploded in the Sunni-populated Aadamiya neighborhood, killing four people and wounding eight.

Two homemade bombs exploded in Abudishir district, south of Baghdad. The blasts in a public market killed six people and wounded 10.

Two bombs exploded in Sayediya district, west of Baghdad, killing two people and wounding five. The blast was followed by an armed attack.

Two people were killed and nine were wounded after gunmen attacked a police checkpoint near Sarafiya Bridge. Police officers were among the causalities.

A anonymous police source said twin blasts hit the area around a primary school in Baghdad. A car bomb parked near the school in Taji district, north of Baghdad, exploded followed by a homemade bomb blast.

Two other homemade bombs placed in a parked car exploded near a public restaurant in Mohit Square of Kadhemiya neighborhood.

Another car bomb exploded in Biyaa district, west of Baghdad.

A car bomb and a homemade bomb exploded near Ali Sajjad Mosque in the Maalef neighborhood of Baghdad.

The police source added that police are on high alert and strict security measures are now in place. More police officers have been deployed.

Today's explosions in Baghdad and several other Iraqi provinces occur only 37 days before the Arab League's summit in Baghdad.

Member of the Security and Defense Committee at the House of Representatives Shuwan Mohammed Taha said the vast number of terrorist attacks over the course of one day "proved that the Iraqi security forces aren't capable of providing stability for the citizens".

The attacks also proved that the intelligence service is a "loser" and unable to prevent insurgency. Taha believes that one of the reasons for this "failure" is that Iraq's security organizations are "monopolized by a certain political party and the other components are deprived of sharing the duty of protecting the country."

Taha's colleague in the Kurdistan Blocs Coalition Fateh Daraghayee believes insurgency has stepped up as a result of "the increasing political disputes which are impossible to resolve, serving the terrorist groups to prove their control and easily target any area they wish".

Daraghayee blamed the Iraqi government for the "deteriorating security situation", urging it to swiftly follow up the attacks "instead of letting parties incriminate each other".

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's advisor for Kurdistan affairs Adel Barwari said in the past few days the intelligence department received information that al-Qaeda militants and supporters of the fallen Baath party were mobilizing in preparation for insurgency.

He related the rise in attacks to disputes between the major political blocs - the Shiite-dominated National Alliance and the Sunni-dominated Iraqiya List.