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Baghdad car bombs leave 56 dead Baghdad car bombs leave 56 dead
(about 1 hour later)
At least 56 people have been killed and more than 120 injured in two car bombs in a Shia district of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, police sources have said.At least 56 people have been killed and more than 120 injured in two car bombs in a Shia district of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, police sources have said.
The blasts ripped through a market in the city's New Baghdad area. One person died in another blast in Sadr City.The blasts ripped through a market in the city's New Baghdad area. One person died in another blast in Sadr City.
The attacks are the deadliest since a joint US-Iraqi security offensive was launched on Wednesday.The attacks are the deadliest since a joint US-Iraqi security offensive was launched on Wednesday.
Earlier Iraq began reopening border crossings with Iran and Syria closed as part of the crackdown, officials said.Earlier Iraq began reopening border crossings with Iran and Syria closed as part of the crackdown, officials said.
The borders had been closed for three days.The borders had been closed for three days.
A large plume of smoke could be seen rising over New Baghdad, an area attacked frequently in the past, following two blasts in quick succession at the open-air market. A large plume of smoke could be seen rising over New Baghdad, an area attacked frequently in the past, following two blasts at the open-air market.
A Reuters photographer in the area reported seeing bodies lying in the street. One hit vegetable stalls, and a second shortly afterwards detonated near a row of electrical goods shops, AFP news agency said.
Shortly afterwards, a car packed with explosives rammed a police checkpoint in Sadr City, killing one person. "Where is the security plan?" shouted grieving relatives outside one of the city's hospital, as dead and injured were transported to the emergency room.
Shortly afterwards, a car packed with explosives rammed a police checkpoint in Sadr City, killing one person and injuring 10.
It has also been revealed that two US soldiers were killed while on patrol in Baghdad on Saturday. One was shot and the other died when a grenade was thrown at his vehicle.
The blasts came a day after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Baghdad and said the security operation had got off to a good start.The blasts came a day after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Baghdad and said the security operation had got off to a good start.
On Friday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki described the crackdown - which has seen thousands of extra US and Iraqi troops sent to Baghdad - as a "brilliant success".On Friday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki described the crackdown - which has seen thousands of extra US and Iraqi troops sent to Baghdad - as a "brilliant success".
The BBC's Jane Peel in Baghdad says the latest attacks would seem to confirm the opinion of senior US military officials that the lull in violence in recent days was temporary and that there were difficult days ahead.The BBC's Jane Peel in Baghdad says the latest attacks would seem to confirm the opinion of senior US military officials that the lull in violence in recent days was temporary and that there were difficult days ahead.
Border reopeningBorder reopening
Along the borders, two main routes into Syria and four into Iran had re-opened, a senior security official in Baghdad said. Other routes will be opened gradually.Along the borders, two main routes into Syria and four into Iran had re-opened, a senior security official in Baghdad said. Other routes will be opened gradually.
British troops were involved in securing the border with IranThe US says Iraqi insurgents receive aid and weapons from Iran and Syria but both countries deny arms trafficking.British troops were involved in securing the border with IranThe US says Iraqi insurgents receive aid and weapons from Iran and Syria but both countries deny arms trafficking.
There have been reports in recent days that radical Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr and supporters from his Mehdi Army had fled to Iran ahead of the crackdown.There have been reports in recent days that radical Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr and supporters from his Mehdi Army had fled to Iran ahead of the crackdown.
But a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry, Mohammed Ali Hosseini, denied the claims.But a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry, Mohammed Ali Hosseini, denied the claims.
"Once the Americans claimed he fled from Iraq, two weeks later they claimed he wanted to enter Iran, but the Iranians didn't give him a visa," Mr Hosseini said."Once the Americans claimed he fled from Iraq, two weeks later they claimed he wanted to enter Iran, but the Iranians didn't give him a visa," Mr Hosseini said.
"They have been fabricating such false claims. These baseless claims are a psychological war driven by America in Iraq in order to put more pressure on Iran. No, he is not in Iran.""They have been fabricating such false claims. These baseless claims are a psychological war driven by America in Iraq in order to put more pressure on Iran. No, he is not in Iran."
Meanwhile, the leaders of Iran and Syria have accused the US, which has 140,000 troops in Iraq, of meddling in that country and in Lebanon to divide the region's Muslims.Meanwhile, the leaders of Iran and Syria have accused the US, which has 140,000 troops in Iraq, of meddling in that country and in Lebanon to divide the region's Muslims.
"They want to push the peoples and the governments to make use of ethnicities and create divisions in the Islamic world. It is this final card that they are trying to play," Syria's President Bashar al-Assad said before leaving Tehran after a two-day visit."They want to push the peoples and the governments to make use of ethnicities and create divisions in the Islamic world. It is this final card that they are trying to play," Syria's President Bashar al-Assad said before leaving Tehran after a two-day visit.