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| Dozens dead as Iraq cities bombed | Dozens dead as Iraq cities bombed |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than 50 people have been killed in car bomb explosions in two Iraqi cities, police say. | More than 50 people have been killed in car bomb explosions in two Iraqi cities, police say. |
| At least 40 people were killed and another 70 were injured in a blast outside a restaurant opposite a court building in Baquba, north of Baghdad. | At least 40 people were killed and another 70 were injured in a blast outside a restaurant opposite a court building in Baquba, north of Baghdad. |
| A huge cloud of smoke rose over the scene, where charred bodies lay among burned-out cars and shattered shops. | A huge cloud of smoke rose over the scene, where charred bodies lay among burned-out cars and shattered shops. |
| Shortly afterwards police said a bomb in the city of Ramadi, further west, had killed 13 people. | Shortly afterwards police said a bomb in the city of Ramadi, further west, had killed 13 people. |
| That also targeted a restaurant. About 14 people were reported injured. | That also targeted a restaurant. About 14 people were reported injured. |
| Medics struggling | Medics struggling |
| Baquba, the capital of Diyala province, has been an insurgent stronghold, where militants linked to al-Qaeda are said to have regrouped after being driven away from Baghdad. | Baquba, the capital of Diyala province, has been an insurgent stronghold, where militants linked to al-Qaeda are said to have regrouped after being driven away from Baghdad. |
| The city has recently been the scene of intensive US and Iraqi operations targeting the militants. | |
| The bomb there exploded just before noon, when the area was crowded with people visiting government offices and eating lunch at the restaurant, the Associated Press (AP) news agency reported. | The bomb there exploded just before noon, when the area was crowded with people visiting government offices and eating lunch at the restaurant, the Associated Press (AP) news agency reported. |
| Witness Abu Ali said: "I was on my way to the government office when a big explosion occurred. | Witness Abu Ali said: "I was on my way to the government office when a big explosion occurred. |
| "As I approached the site, I saw cars on fire, burned bodies and damaged shops with shattered glass everywhere." | "As I approached the site, I saw cars on fire, burned bodies and damaged shops with shattered glass everywhere." |
| A police officer said the casualties included women and children. | A police officer said the casualties included women and children. |
| "At least 40 people have been killed and most of them were burned beyond recognition," Dr Ahmed Fuad, at the local hospital in Baquba, told the AFP news agency. | "At least 40 people have been killed and most of them were burned beyond recognition," Dr Ahmed Fuad, at the local hospital in Baquba, told the AFP news agency. |
| There were so many wounded that ambulances were struggling to get them all to hospital, medical sources said. | There were so many wounded that ambulances were struggling to get them all to hospital, medical sources said. |
| It is not clear who carried out the attack but suspicion will fall on groups inspired by al-Qaeda, says the BBC's Crispin Thorold in Baghdad. | It is not clear who carried out the attack but suspicion will fall on groups inspired by al-Qaeda, says the BBC's Crispin Thorold in Baghdad. |
| Spate of attacks | Spate of attacks |
| The attack in Ramadi occurred in or outside a kebab restaurant, police said. It was reportedly carried out by a suicide attacker. | The attack in Ramadi occurred in or outside a kebab restaurant, police said. It was reportedly carried out by a suicide attacker. |
| Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, was once the heart of the insurgency. | Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, was once the heart of the insurgency. |
| In contrast to Diyala, the region has seen a sharp decline in violence as Sunni tribal leaders have sided with American and Iraqi government forces against al-Qaeda. | In contrast to Diyala, the region has seen a sharp decline in violence as Sunni tribal leaders have sided with American and Iraqi government forces against al-Qaeda. |
| The attack in Baquba was one of the most deadly for months in Iraq, where the US surge strategy has succeeded in reducing the number of deaths. | The attack in Baquba was one of the most deadly for months in Iraq, where the US surge strategy has succeeded in reducing the number of deaths. |
| However, there have been several attacks already this week. At least 17 people were killed in two bomb attacks near Mosul on Monday, including one which killed 12 members of the Kurdish Peshmerga security force, now part of the Iraqi army, near the Syrian border. | However, there have been several attacks already this week. At least 17 people were killed in two bomb attacks near Mosul on Monday, including one which killed 12 members of the Kurdish Peshmerga security force, now part of the Iraqi army, near the Syrian border. |
| The attacks come as US and Iraqi forces continue their offensive against Shia militias in Baghdad and further south. | The attacks come as US and Iraqi forces continue their offensive against Shia militias in Baghdad and further south. |
| The US military said it had killed six militants earlier on Tuesday in an engagement with gunmen near Baghdad's main Shia militia stronghold of Sadr City. | The US military said it had killed six militants earlier on Tuesday in an engagement with gunmen near Baghdad's main Shia militia stronghold of Sadr City. |