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Dozens killed in Baghdad attacks Dozens killed in Baghdad attacks
(9 minutes later)
Car bombs and and a barrage of mortars have killed at least 45 people and wounded almost 300 in the centre of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, officials say. Truck bombs and and a barrage of mortars have killed at least 50 people and wounded almost 300 in the centre of Baghdad, officials say.
One car reportedly exploded outside the foreign ministry near the outside edge of the heavily guarded government Green Zone, leaving a huge crater. One vehicle exploded outside the foreign ministry near the outside edge of the heavily guarded government Green Zone, reportedly leaving a huge crater.
Another went off close to the finance ministry building.Another went off close to the finance ministry building.
Iraq has witnessed a reduction in insurgency violence recently, but attacks remain common in some cities. Iraq has seen a drop reduction in insurgency violence recently, but attacks remain common in some cities.
Baghdad has seen several attacks since Iraqi forces took over responsibility for security in the city. The capital has witnessed several attacks since Iraqi forces took over responsibility for security in the city.
However, our correspondent Natalia Antelava, in Baghdad, notes that most of the attacks targeted poor Shia neighbourhoods. These are the first co-ordinated strikes against central areas of the city, she says. However, the BBC's Natalia Antelava in Baghdad notes that most of those attacks targeted poor Shia neighbourhoods. These are the first co-ordinated strikes against the better-protected central areas of the city, she says.
Shattered glassShattered glass
Two huge bombs hidden in vehicles went off near the ministries on Wednesday morning, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky, officials said. Two huge bombs - believed to have been hidden in trucks - went off on Wednesday morning, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky.
At least three further blasts - possibly mortars - also went off inside the Green Zone. Thick smoke filled the sky above central Baghdad following the blasts
The full picture remains unclear at present but at least 45 people are thought to have been killed, with hundreds wounded. The full picture remains unclear at present but at least 50 people are thought to have been killed and hundreds wounded.
The biggest blast was near the foreign ministry, just outside the Green Zone. It was powerful enough to shatter windows at the parliament building inside the Zone, which houses government and diplomatic buildings, reports said.
It left a crater 3m (10 feet) deep and 10m in diameter, reported AFP news agency.
Another blast minutes earlier 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 three further explosions - possibly mortars - also went off in other parts of Baghdad.
The apparently co-ordinated attacks come weeks after US troops handed over responsibility for security to Iraqi forces in towns and cities, including Baghdad and the Green Zone.
But at the time many expressed concern that Iraqi forces were not up to the task - and this brazen assault on what should be one of the best protected areas in the country sheds doubt on government claims to the contrary, our correspondent says.
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 following 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 following the US-led invasion earlier that year.
In the past six years, tens of thousands of have been killed in the violence that followed.In the past six years, tens of thousands of have been killed in the violence that followed.
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