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| Obama's fury at Baghdad bloodbath | Obama's fury at Baghdad bloodbath |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has led international condemnation of Sunday's double suicide bomb attack in Baghdad that killed at least 132 people. | US President Barack Obama has led international condemnation of Sunday's double suicide bomb attack in Baghdad that killed at least 132 people. |
| Mr Obama branded the attacks - the worst in more than two years in Iraq - "hateful and destructive". | Mr Obama branded the attacks - the worst in more than two years in Iraq - "hateful and destructive". |
| UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said they were a "terrible reminder of the threat from violent extremism". | UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said they were a "terrible reminder of the threat from violent extremism". |
| The blasts hit the ministry of justice and a provincial government office near the heavily fortified Green Zone. | The blasts hit the ministry of justice and a provincial government office near the heavily fortified Green Zone. |
| ANALYSIS Gabriel Gatehouse, BBC News, Baghdad | ANALYSIS Gabriel Gatehouse, BBC News, Baghdad |
| Sunday's blasts present a problem for President Barack Obama. He wants all combat troops out of Iraq by the end of August, in preparation for a full military withdrawal by 2012. | Sunday's blasts present a problem for President Barack Obama. He wants all combat troops out of Iraq by the end of August, in preparation for a full military withdrawal by 2012. |
| If the security situation deteriorates, the US military may have to revise this timetable. They will be asking searching questions about Iraq's security forces - are they competent and well enough trained to secure the country and are they immune from infiltration by insurgents? | If the security situation deteriorates, the US military may have to revise this timetable. They will be asking searching questions about Iraq's security forces - are they competent and well enough trained to secure the country and are they immune from infiltration by insurgents? |
| After Sunday's attacks there will be those who will argue that the answer to both these questions is no. Back to the bad old days? | After Sunday's attacks there will be those who will argue that the answer to both these questions is no. Back to the bad old days? |
| More than 520 people were also injured when the two car bombs exploded in quick succession at 1030 (0730 GMT) as people headed to work during the rush hour. | More than 520 people were also injured when the two car bombs exploded in quick succession at 1030 (0730 GMT) as people headed to work during the rush hour. |
| The White House said President Obama had spoken to Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki and President Jalal Talabani to pledge his support. | The White House said President Obama had spoken to Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki and President Jalal Talabani to pledge his support. |
| Mr Obama said in a statement: "I strongly condemn these outrageous attacks on the Iraqi people, and send my deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones. | Mr Obama said in a statement: "I strongly condemn these outrageous attacks on the Iraqi people, and send my deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones. |
| "These bombings serve no purpose other than the murder of innocent men, women and children, and they only reveal the hateful and destructive agenda of those who would deny the Iraqi people the future that they deserve." | "These bombings serve no purpose other than the murder of innocent men, women and children, and they only reveal the hateful and destructive agenda of those who would deny the Iraqi people the future that they deserve." |
| The International Zone, or Green Zone, is the administrative heart of the capital. | The International Zone, or Green Zone, is the administrative heart of the capital. |
| The Iraqi authorities said the suicide bombers drove their vehicles into parking bays and detonated them. | The Iraqi authorities said the suicide bombers drove their vehicles into parking bays and detonated them. |
| Traffic limits in the street were eased six months ago and blast walls repositioned as part of a programme which Mr Maliki said showed progress was being made against insurgents. | Traffic limits in the street were eased six months ago and blast walls repositioned as part of a programme which Mr Maliki said showed progress was being made against insurgents. |
| Dozens of the dead were said to be staff members of the ministry of justice and Baghdad provincial government. | Dozens of the dead were said to be staff members of the ministry of justice and Baghdad provincial government. |
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| Mobile footage captures blast in the Iraqi capital | Mobile footage captures blast in the Iraqi capital |
| No-one has yet said they carried out the attack. | No-one has yet said they carried out the attack. |
| Election fears | Election fears |
| The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Baghdad says that hours after the explosions, rescue workers were still sifting through the rubble and the wreckage, looking for bodies and survivors. | The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Baghdad says that hours after the explosions, rescue workers were still sifting through the rubble and the wreckage, looking for bodies and survivors. |
| DEADLIEST ATTACKS SINCE 2003 Aug 2007: More than 500 killed in attacks on villages near SinjarJul 2007: 150 killed in truck bombing in Tuz KhurmatoApr 2007: 191 killed in car bombings in BaghdadMar 2007: 152 killed in truck bombing in Tal AfarFeb 2007: 135 killed in truck bombing in BaghdadNov 2006: 202 killed in multiple blasts in BaghdadMar 2004: 171 killed in bombings in Baghdad and Karbala Source: News agencies, BBC In pictures: Baghdad blasts Iraq: Key facts and figures | DEADLIEST ATTACKS SINCE 2003 Aug 2007: More than 500 killed in attacks on villages near SinjarJul 2007: 150 killed in truck bombing in Tuz KhurmatoApr 2007: 191 killed in car bombings in BaghdadMar 2007: 152 killed in truck bombing in Tal AfarFeb 2007: 135 killed in truck bombing in BaghdadNov 2006: 202 killed in multiple blasts in BaghdadMar 2004: 171 killed in bombings in Baghdad and Karbala Source: News agencies, BBC In pictures: Baghdad blasts Iraq: Key facts and figures |
| Hospitals struggled to deal with the wounded as ambulances brought in more and more casualties. | Hospitals struggled to deal with the wounded as ambulances brought in more and more casualties. |
| After Mr Maliki visited the scene he blamed al-Qaeda and supporters of former president Saddam Hussein. | After Mr Maliki visited the scene he blamed al-Qaeda and supporters of former president Saddam Hussein. |
| "These cowardly terrorist attacks must not affect the determination of the Iraqi people to continue their struggle against the remnants of the dismantled regime and al-Qaeda terrorists," he said. | "These cowardly terrorist attacks must not affect the determination of the Iraqi people to continue their struggle against the remnants of the dismantled regime and al-Qaeda terrorists," he said. |
| Overall, violence has dropped dramatically in Iraq compared to a year ago, although sporadic attacks still continue in several parts of the country. | Overall, violence has dropped dramatically in Iraq compared to a year ago, although sporadic attacks still continue in several parts of the country. |
| But our correspondent says there are fears that violence may increase as the country heads towards parliamentary elections scheduled for the beginning of next year. | But our correspondent says there are fears that violence may increase as the country heads towards parliamentary elections scheduled for the beginning of next year. |
| The bombs went off as senior politicians were met in central Baghdad to try to break the deadlock over a draft law that would enable elections to take place in January. | The bombs went off as senior politicians were met in central Baghdad to try to break the deadlock over a draft law that would enable elections to take place in January. |
| The meeting ended without agreement, but will re-convene on Monday. | The meeting ended without agreement, but will re-convene on Monday. |
| Last week the Iraqi parliament failed to meet a deadline to pass the legislation because of differences on a number of issues, among them whether to tell voters which candidates are on the party lists. | Last week the Iraqi parliament failed to meet a deadline to pass the legislation because of differences on a number of issues, among them whether to tell voters which candidates are on the party lists. |
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