This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6178994.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Baghdad curfew after bombing wave Baghdad curfew after bombing wave
(30 minutes later)
An indefinite curfew is in place in Baghdad after one of the worst series of bombings in Iraq's capital since the US-led invasion of 2003.An indefinite curfew is in place in Baghdad after one of the worst series of bombings in Iraq's capital since the US-led invasion of 2003.
A wave of car bombs and mortars in the mostly Shia Sadr City district killed 144 people and injured 260, many of them seriously, Iraqi police said. The move comes as casualties from Thursday's car bombings in the mostly Shia area of Sadr City rose to 202 dead and about 250 wounded, police said.
The bombings were followed by mortar attacks on Sunni areas.The bombings were followed by mortar attacks on Sunni areas.
Baghdad's airport has been closed and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has appealed for restraint.Baghdad's airport has been closed and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has appealed for restraint.
"We denounce sectarian practices that aim to destroy the unity of the nation," Mr Maliki said in a television broadcast."We denounce sectarian practices that aim to destroy the unity of the nation," Mr Maliki said in a television broadcast.
'Senseless violence''Senseless violence'
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.The Iraqi authorities have also closed Basra's air and sea ports in the south.
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 a show of unity, leaders of Iraq's Shia, Sunni and Kurdish communities held a joint news conference in which they appealed for calm.In a show of unity, leaders of Iraq's Shia, Sunni and Kurdish communities held a joint news conference in which they appealed for calm.
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.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.
In Washington, a White House spokeswoman said the US 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 the US 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.
Blasts in picturesBlasts in pictures
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.
"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 Sadr City, police said.Several mortar rounds were also fired into Sadr City, police said.
Hospitals fullHospitals full
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 - 144 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 - 202 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 reported.Angry residents and armed Shia militiamen came out onto the streets, shouting curses at Sunni Muslims, the Associated Press news agency reported.
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's Arabic Service."They were killed in cold blood by Sunni extremists and Baathist criminal remnants," he told the BBC's 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.
Mortar fireMortar fire
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, mortar fire hit several Sunni areas, killing 10 people, AP said.Shortly after the blasts, mortar fire hit several Sunni areas, killing 10 people, AP said.
The Abu Hanifa mosque, an important Sunni shrine, was badly damaged, the agency said.The Abu Hanifa mosque, an important Sunni shrine, was badly damaged, the agency said.
The daily attacks in Baghdad are now more brazen and more sectarian, says the BBC's Middle East analyst Roger Hardy.The daily attacks in Baghdad are now more brazen and more sectarian, says the BBC's 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.