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Blasts bring carnage to Baghdad Blasts bring carnage to Baghdad
(39 minutes later)
Truck bombs and a barrage of mortars have killed at least 95 people and wounded more than 500 in Baghdad, in the deadliest attacks in months.Truck bombs and a barrage of mortars have killed at least 95 people and wounded more than 500 in Baghdad, in the deadliest attacks in months.
One vehicle exploded outside the foreign ministry near the perimeter of the heavily guarded government Green Zone, leaving a huge crater.One vehicle exploded outside the foreign ministry near the perimeter of the heavily guarded government Green Zone, leaving a huge crater.
Another blast went off close to the finance ministry building.Another blast went off close to the finance ministry building.
While Baghdad is often hit by attacks, it is unusual for them to penetrate such well-fortified areas of the city.While Baghdad is often hit by attacks, it is unusual for them to penetrate such well-fortified areas of the city.
Since Iraqi forces took over responsibility for security in the city in late June, most attacks have targeted poor Shia neighbourhoods, says the BBC's Natalia Antelava in Baghdad.Since Iraqi forces took over responsibility for security in the city in late June, most attacks have targeted poor Shia neighbourhoods, says the BBC's Natalia Antelava in Baghdad.
MAJOR ATTACKS AFTER US PULLBACK 19 August: At least 95 killed in wave of attacks in central Baghdad31 July: At least 27 dead in bombings outside five Badghdad mosques 9 July: 50 killed in bomb attacks at Talafar (near Mosul), Baghdad, and elsewhere30 June: US troops withdraw from Iraqi towns and cities. Car bomb in Kirkuk kills at least 27 peopleMAJOR ATTACKS AFTER US PULLBACK 19 August: At least 95 killed in wave of attacks in central Baghdad31 July: At least 27 dead in bombings outside five Badghdad mosques 9 July: 50 killed in bomb attacks at Talafar (near Mosul), Baghdad, and elsewhere30 June: US troops withdraw from Iraqi towns and cities. Car bomb in Kirkuk kills at least 27 people
The level of violence in Iraq has fallen since the peaks of 2006 and 2007, but bomb attacks remain commonplace.The level of violence in Iraq has fallen since the peaks of 2006 and 2007, but bomb attacks remain commonplace.
An interior ministry official said at least 95 people were killed and more than 563 injured in Wednesday morning's apparently co-ordinated attacks.An interior ministry official said at least 95 people were killed and more than 563 injured in Wednesday morning's apparently co-ordinated attacks.
Two huge bombs - believed to have been hidden in trucks - went off, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky.Two huge bombs - believed to have been hidden in trucks - went off, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky.
The biggest blast was near the foreign ministry, just outside the Green Zone. It was powerful enough to break windows at the parliament building inside the Zone which houses government and diplomatic buildings, reports said. The biggest blast was near the foreign ministry, just outside the Green Zone. It was powerful enough to break windows at the parliament building inside the zone, which houses government and diplomatic buildings.
It left a crater 3m (10ft) deep and 10m in diameter, and left behind the smouldering wreckage of cars outside, reports said. It also left a crater 3m (10ft) deep and 10m in diameter, with the smouldering wreckage of cars scattered around the site of the explosion.
'Terrified''Terrified'
"The windows of the foreign ministry shattered, slaughtering the people inside," Asia, a ministry employee, told Reuters news agency."The windows of the foreign ministry shattered, slaughtering the people inside," Asia, a ministry employee, told Reuters news agency.
"I could see ministry workers, journalists and security guards among the dead," she said."I could see ministry workers, journalists and security guards among the dead," she said.
In pictures: Baghdad attacksIn pictures: Baghdad attacks
Minutes earlier, another blast close to the finance ministry in another hitherto relatively safe area of the city is reported to have affected a raised highway nearby.Minutes earlier, another blast close to the finance ministry in another hitherto relatively safe area of the city is reported to have affected a raised highway nearby.
At least four other explosions went off in other parts of Baghdad, including the Bayaa district of southern Baghdad.At least four other explosions went off in other parts of Baghdad, including the Bayaa district of southern Baghdad.
Several mortars fell inside the Green Zone itself.Several mortars fell inside the Green Zone itself.
"Everybody on the street was going crazy," Mustapha Muhie, who works near the Green Zone as an administrator, told the BBC's Newshour programme."Everybody on the street was going crazy," Mustapha Muhie, who works near the Green Zone as an administrator, told the BBC's Newshour programme.
"Nobody knew what was going on. Everybody was just trying to get to their cars, just trying to get home - and that's what I did. There was so much traffic in the streets, and the checkpoints. They were searching every car, stopping everybody and asking stuff. A road that takes me 10 minutes to get home today took me an hour. "Everybody was just trying to get to their cars, just trying to get home - and that's what I did."
"My whole family was really upset, they were terrified. And everybody is scared that things will get worse, just like before."
An Iraqi army spokesman said two al-Qaeda members had been arrested in a Baghdad district in connection with the attacks.
Clear targets
The wave of explosions occurred just as Prime Minister Nouri Maliki was about to arrive at a nearby hotel to hold a news conference, which was cancelled.The wave of explosions occurred just as Prime Minister Nouri Maliki was about to arrive at a nearby hotel to hold a news conference, which was cancelled.
There have been no claims of responsibility for the attacks.
Past attacks have been blamed on al-Qaeda linked-Sunni insurgents.
ANALYSIS Natalia Antelava BBC News, Baghdad These are unusual attacks - in the last few weeks, we have seen explosions in Baghdad, but these attacks occurred in some of the supposedly safest neighbourhoods of the city.ANALYSIS Natalia Antelava BBC News, Baghdad These are unusual attacks - in the last few weeks, we have seen explosions in Baghdad, but these attacks occurred in some of the supposedly safest neighbourhoods of the city.
For many people, these attacks confirm their worst fears over the withdrawal of US troops from cities across Iraq at the end of June and handing over of the security situation to Iraqi forces. A lot of people before the withdrawal were saying they were very fearful that attacks would rise.For many people, these attacks confirm their worst fears over the withdrawal of US troops from cities across Iraq at the end of June and handing over of the security situation to Iraqi forces. A lot of people before the withdrawal were saying they were very fearful that attacks would rise.
The government said they were in full control - but attacks like these, in what should be a very safe, very well-protected area of Baghdad will certainly shed some very serious doubts on these assurances.The government said they were in full control - but attacks like these, in what should be a very safe, very well-protected area of Baghdad will certainly shed some very serious doubts on these assurances.
There have been no official accusations about who is behind the attacks, or claims of responsibility. An Iraqi army spokesman said two al-Qaeda members had been arrested in a Baghdad district in connection with the attacks.
But in the past, the government has blamed al-Qaeda linked Sunni insurgents - and they might again be blamed for these attacks, given that government buildings were the clear target, our correspondent says. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani called for security forces to be "more alert and firm" following the bombings.
"The terrorists are trying to rekindle the cycle of violence of previous years by creating an atmosphere of tension among the Iraqi people," he said in a statement.
The violence comes exactly six years after one of the first major attacks in Iraq after the toppling of Saddam Hussein.The violence comes exactly six years after one of the first major attacks in Iraq after the toppling of Saddam Hussein.
On 19 August 2003, the UN headquarters in Baghdad was hit by a suicide truck bomb, killing 22 people in what was the most deadly attack up until that point since the US-led invasion earlier that year.On 19 August 2003, the UN headquarters in Baghdad was hit by a suicide truck bomb, killing 22 people in what was the most deadly attack up until that point since the US-led invasion earlier that year.
The date was chosen for the UN's inaugural World Humanitarian Day. Tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed in the violence that followed.
The UN hopes the event will focus attention on aid workers and increase support for their role. The anniversary was chosen for the UN's inaugural World Humanitarian Day, in an effort to increase support for aid workers.
In the past six years, tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed in the violence that followed. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "saddened" by Wednesday's "appalling" attacks.


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