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/6320495.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Twenty-five dead in Iraq attacks | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| At least 25 people have been killed in a series of bomb and mortar attacks across Iraq, officials say. | |
| Police said at least 15 people died in bomb blasts in the town of Hilla, 120km (75 miles) south of Baghdad. More than 25 other people were reported hurt. | |
| Earlier, six people died when a bomb hit a minibus in Baghdad's mainly Shia Karrada district. Three more people died in a car bomb in Rusfasi. | |
| The blasts followed mortar attacks in the mainly Sunni area of Adhamiya. | The blasts followed mortar attacks in the mainly Sunni area of Adhamiya. |
| Meanwhile, the Iraqi government denied using excessive force in a battle last weekend in which more than 260 people died near the Shia holy city of Najaf. | Meanwhile, the Iraqi government denied using excessive force in a battle last weekend in which more than 260 people died near the Shia holy city of Najaf. |
| Growing controversy | |
| A government spokesman said Iraqi and US forces fought members of a religious cult, calling themselves the Soldiers of Heaven, who had threatened to carry out acts of terrorism. | A government spokesman said Iraqi and US forces fought members of a religious cult, calling themselves the Soldiers of Heaven, who had threatened to carry out acts of terrorism. |
| The group had resisted repeated calls to surrender, and as for the level of force used, Ali Dabbagh said the government was entitled to protect Iraqi citizens. | The group had resisted repeated calls to surrender, and as for the level of force used, Ali Dabbagh said the government was entitled to protect Iraqi citizens. |
| However, the official version of events has not gone unchallenged and controversy is growing. | However, the official version of events has not gone unchallenged and controversy is growing. |
| According to accounts on an Iraqi website and in the British media, the drama began with a clash between an Iraqi tribe on a pilgrimage to Najaf and an Iraqi army checkpoint. | According to accounts on an Iraqi website and in the British media, the drama began with a clash between an Iraqi tribe on a pilgrimage to Najaf and an Iraqi army checkpoint. |
| The fighting escalated, army commanders called for reinforcements and US aircraft launched an aerial bombardment - with significant loss of life. | The fighting escalated, army commanders called for reinforcements and US aircraft launched an aerial bombardment - with significant loss of life. |
| According to this account, the involvement of the Soldiers of Heaven appears to have been accidental. | According to this account, the involvement of the Soldiers of Heaven appears to have been accidental. |
| 'Big explosion' | 'Big explosion' |
| In the latest violence, the three attacks in Baghdad also left dozens injured. | |
| In Karrada, at least eight people were hurt in the minibus blast, police said. | |
| "We heard a big explosion and we rushed to the street to see the bus on fire and some wounded people jumping from the bus and falling on the ground," witness Jamal Ali told the Associated Press news agency. | "We heard a big explosion and we rushed to the street to see the bus on fire and some wounded people jumping from the bus and falling on the ground," witness Jamal Ali told the Associated Press news agency. |
| There have been a number of attacks in the busy commercial district in recent weeks. | There have been a number of attacks in the busy commercial district in recent weeks. |
| Last week, 40 people died and 80 more were injured by a car bombing there. | Last week, 40 people died and 80 more were injured by a car bombing there. |