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Baghdad car bombings 'kill 160' Baghdad car bombings 'kill 160'
(about 2 hours later)
A wave of car bombs and mortars in Baghdad's Sadr City district has left about 160 people dead and more than 200 injured, Iraq police have said.A wave of car bombs and mortars in Baghdad's Sadr City district has left about 160 people dead and more than 200 injured, Iraq police have said.
It was the most devastating series of attacks in Iraq's capital in a single day since the US-led invasion in 2003.It was the most devastating series of attacks in Iraq's capital in a single day since the US-led invasion in 2003.
The bombings in Sadr City were followed by mortar attacks on Sunni areas.The bombings in Sadr City were followed by mortar attacks on Sunni areas.
The Iraqi authorities have put Baghdad under curfew and closed the airport, and Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki went on TV to appeal for restraint amid the violence.The Iraqi authorities have put Baghdad under curfew and closed the airport, and Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki went on TV to appeal for restraint amid the violence.
"We denounce sectarian practices that aim to destroy the unity of the nation," Mr Maliki said."We denounce sectarian practices that aim to destroy the unity of the nation," Mr Maliki said.
PanicPanic
Leaders of Iraq's Shia, Sunni and Kurdish communities also appealed for calm, while Iraq's most prominent Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, "urged people not to react illegally and maintain self-restraint and calm," one of his officials said.Leaders of Iraq's Shia, Sunni and Kurdish communities also appealed for calm, while Iraq's most prominent Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, "urged people not to react illegally and maintain self-restraint and calm," one of his officials said.
There were pools of blood on the street and children dead on the ground Kareem al-Rubaie News photographer Death toll hits record high Who are the armed groups?There were pools of blood on the street and children dead on the ground Kareem al-Rubaie News photographer Death toll hits record high Who are the armed groups?
In Washington, a White House spokeswoman said they condemned "such acts of senseless violence that are clearly aimed at undermining the Iraqi people's hopes for a peaceful and stable Iraq."In Washington, a White House spokeswoman said they condemned "such acts of senseless violence that are clearly aimed at undermining the Iraqi people's hopes for a peaceful and stable Iraq."
UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett also condemned the "barbaric" attacks, saying that such actions "show how little the terrorists have to offer the Iraqi people and the importance of building national reconciliation".UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett also condemned the "barbaric" attacks, saying that such actions "show how little the terrorists have to offer the Iraqi people and the importance of building national reconciliation".
The blasts brought panic to the streets of Sadr City, a densely populated, largely Shia neighbourhood, as distraught residents searched for family and friends.The blasts brought panic to the streets of Sadr City, a densely populated, largely Shia neighbourhood, as distraught residents searched for family and friends.
Several car bombs, at least three of them believed to be suicide attacks, exploded minutes apart.Several car bombs, at least three of them believed to be suicide attacks, exploded minutes apart.
Among the targets were a busy square, a food market and a street where people catch buses.Among the targets were a busy square, a food market and a street where people catch buses.
Blasts in picturesBlasts in pictures
"I was out shopping. As the bombs went off, everyone started running and shouting," news photographer Kareem al-Rubaie told Reuters new agency."I was out shopping. As the bombs went off, everyone started running and shouting," news photographer Kareem al-Rubaie told Reuters new agency.
"I saw a car from a wedding party, covered in ribbons and flowers. It was burning. There were pools of blood on the street and children dead on the ground.""I saw a car from a wedding party, covered in ribbons and flowers. It was burning. There were pools of blood on the street and children dead on the ground."
People tried to pull bodies out of the mangled wreckage of cars and minibuses and put out fires.People tried to pull bodies out of the mangled wreckage of cars and minibuses and put out fires.
Several mortar rounds were also fired into hit Sadr City, police said.Several mortar rounds were also fired into hit Sadr City, police said.
CursesCurses
The number of casualties put major pressure on transport and hospitals.The number of casualties put major pressure on transport and hospitals.
BLOODIEST DAYS OF VIOLENCE 23 Nov 2006 - 138 deadWave of car bomb and mortar blasts strike Sadr City in Baghdad7 April 2006 - 85 deadTriple suicide bombing at Shia Buratha mosque in Baghdad5 Jan 2006 - 110 deadSuicide bombers hit Karbala shrine and police recruiting station in Ramadi14 Sept 2005 - 182 deadSuicide car bomber targets Baghdad labourers in worst of a series of bombs28 Feb 2005 - 114 deadSuicide car bomb hits government jobseekers in Hilla2 March 2004 - 140 deadSuicide bombers attack Shia festival-goers in Karbala and Baghdad1 Feb 2004 - 105 deadTwin attacks on Kurdish parties' offices in Irbil BLOODIEST DAYS OF VIOLENCE 23 Nov 2006 - 160 deadWave of car bomb and mortar blasts strike Sadr City in Baghdad7 April 2006 - 85 deadTriple suicide bombing at Shia Buratha mosque in Baghdad5 Jan 2006 - 110 deadSuicide bombers hit Karbala shrine and police recruiting station in Ramadi14 Sept 2005 - 182 deadSuicide car bomber targets Baghdad labourers in worst of a series of bombs28 Feb 2005 - 114 deadSuicide car bomb hits government jobseekers in Hilla2 March 2004 - 140 deadSuicide bombers attack Shia festival-goers in Karbala and Baghdad1 Feb 2004 - 105 deadTwin attacks on Kurdish parties' offices in Irbil
The injured filled Sadr City's hospitals, with dozens lying bleeding in the corridors.The injured filled Sadr City's hospitals, with dozens lying bleeding in the corridors.
Angry residents and armed Shia militiamen came out onto the streets, shouting curses at Sunni Muslims, the Associated Press news agency reports.Angry residents and armed Shia militiamen came out onto the streets, shouting curses at Sunni Muslims, the Associated Press news agency reports.
The Iraqi health minister, Ali al-Shammari, accused Sunnis and loyalists of the former ruling Baath party of being behind the attacks.The Iraqi health minister, Ali al-Shammari, accused Sunnis and loyalists of the former ruling Baath party of being behind the attacks.
"They were killed in cold blood by Sunni extremists and Baathist criminal remnants," he told the BBC Arabic Service."They were killed in cold blood by Sunni extremists and Baathist criminal remnants," he told the BBC Arabic Service.
The bombs exploded shortly after dozens of gunmen had attacked the health ministry in Baghdad, clashing with Iraqi guards and soldiers before they were beaten off.The bombs exploded shortly after dozens of gunmen had attacked the health ministry in Baghdad, clashing with Iraqi guards and soldiers before they were beaten off.
Brazen attacksBrazen attacks
Sadr City is largely controlled by the Mehdi Army, the best-known of the Shia Iraqi militias, which has been accused of carrying out many sectarian attacks.Sadr City is largely controlled by the Mehdi Army, the best-known of the Shia Iraqi militias, which has been accused of carrying out many sectarian attacks.
Living with violence Sadr City: Shia strongholdLiving with violence Sadr City: Shia stronghold
Shortly after the blasts, a dozen mortars hit the Adhamiya district, a predominantly Sunni area, injuring 10 people, the interior ministry said.Shortly after the blasts, a dozen mortars hit the Adhamiya district, a predominantly Sunni area, injuring 10 people, the interior ministry said.
The Iraqi authorities put Baghdad's seven million residents under curfew on Thursday evening, saying all people and vehicles must stay off the streets until further notice.The Iraqi authorities put Baghdad's seven million residents under curfew on Thursday evening, saying all people and vehicles must stay off the streets until further notice.
The Iraqi authorities have also closed Basra's air and sea ports in the south, as well as the international airport in Baghdad.The Iraqi authorities have also closed Basra's air and sea ports in the south, as well as the international airport in Baghdad.
The daily attacks in Baghdad are now more brazen and more sectarian, says BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy.The daily attacks in Baghdad are now more brazen and more sectarian, says BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy.
On Wednesday, the United Nations said violent deaths among civilians hit a record high in October, with more than 3,700 people losing their lives - the majority in sectarian attacks.On Wednesday, the United Nations said violent deaths among civilians hit a record high in October, with more than 3,700 people losing their lives - the majority in sectarian attacks.