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Iraqi governor hit in twin blasts Iraqi governor hit in twin blasts
(about 6 hours later)
At least 23 people, mostly police, have died and about 60 have been injured in two suicide bombs in the same street in Ramadi, provincial capital of Anbar. Twenty-four people, mostly police, have died in twin suicide blasts on the same street in a high-security zone of the Anbar province capital, Ramadi.
Anbar Governor Qassim Mohammed was injured. Initial reports said he died. Anbar Governor Qassim Mohammed was among 60 people wounded - his condition was described as very serious.
In the attacks on a heavily protected area of the city, the first bomber was in a car while the second was on foot and wearing army uniform, police said. The first bomber was in a car while the second was on foot and wearing army uniform, police said.
Analysts have blamed recent attacks in Iraq on al-Qaeda trying to destabilise the country ahead of March elections. The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says violence has been rising as Iraq prepares for a March general election.
In a separate attack, a roadside bomb killed six Iraqi Shia Muslim pilgrims in Khalis, 80km (50 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
Inside job?
In Ramadi, at least 13 of those killed in Wednesday's twin bombing were police officers.
ANALYSIS Jim Muir, BBC News, BaghdadANALYSIS Jim Muir, BBC News, Baghdad
The attacks were aimed at provincial government buildings, and many of the casualties were police or officials.The attacks were aimed at provincial government buildings, and many of the casualties were police or officials.
Eighteen policemen, including some senior officers, were reported to be among those who died.Eighteen policemen, including some senior officers, were reported to be among those who died.
Ramadi was once a stronghold of the Sunni insurgency until tribes turned against al-Qaeda and sided with the Americans and Baghdad government.Ramadi was once a stronghold of the Sunni insurgency until tribes turned against al-Qaeda and sided with the Americans and Baghdad government.
That brought a period of quiet to the province, but there has been a mounting number of attacks in recent months, possibly linked to the approach of March's elections.That brought a period of quiet to the province, but there has been a mounting number of attacks in recent months, possibly linked to the approach of March's elections.
Up to 18 of those killed in Wednesday's twin bombing were police officers, including a deputy chief of police. A suicide bomber in a car triggered the first blast at a checkpoint on the main road near the provincial administration buildings, say police.
Police say a suicide bomber in a car triggered the first blast on the main road near the provincial administration buildings. The governor was injured in the follow-up blast, about a half hour later, when he emerged from his office to inspect damage from the initial bomb.
The governor was injured in the follow-up blast, after he came out of his office to inspect damage from the initial bomb.
The second attacker, wearing a suicide vest under what appeared to be an Iraqi army uniform, blew himself up as he ran into the crowd around the governor, said police.The second attacker, wearing a suicide vest under what appeared to be an Iraqi army uniform, blew himself up as he ran into the crowd around the governor, said police.
The governor suffered burns to his face and injuries to his abdomen, a doctor told the Associated Press news agency. Al-Iraqiya state TV said one of the bombers had been working as a bodyguard for Governor Mohammed, who was initially reported to have been killed in the blast.
The attacks echoed a co-ordinated triple bombing in Ramadi on 11 October, when 22 people were killed and more than 60 wounded. He suffered burns to his face and injuries to his abdomen, a doctor told the Associated Press news agency.
"I flew through the air and I woke up in the hospital," Ramadi resident Ahmed Mahmoud, who was walking to the shops when one of the bombs went off, told Reuters news agency.
The attacks echoed a co-ordinated triple bombing in Ramadi on 11 October, which caused a similar number of casualties.
Al-Qaeda are trying to create general anarchy towards the election to show how the weak the government is Dr Mowaffak RubaieIraqi MP Triple attack on Ramadi, October
Anbar was the heart of Iraq's Sunni Islamist insurgency following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, but became relatively secure after tribal leaders turned against al-Qaeda in 2006.Anbar was the heart of Iraq's Sunni Islamist insurgency following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, but became relatively secure after tribal leaders turned against al-Qaeda in 2006.
Al-Qaeda are trying to create general anarchy all over the country towards the general election to show how the weak the government is Dr Mowaffak RubaieIraqi MP class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/8301337.stm">Triple attack on Ramadi, October Our correspondent says while Anbar has been generally quiet, the number of attacks has been rising in recent months, a worrying development in advance of March's general elections.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says while Anbar has been generally quiet, the number of attacks has been rising in recent months, a worrying development in advance of March's general elections.
Despite this, he says general levels of violence in Iraq have fallen a long way.Despite this, he says general levels of violence in Iraq have fallen a long way.
In November, the number of civilians killed was just 88, compared with more than 3,000 Iraqis killed in the same month three years ago. In November, the number of civilians killed was just 88, compared with more than 3,000 Iraqis who died in the same month three years ago.
Iraqi MP Dr Mowaffak Rubaie told BBC's World Update programme the attacks were al-Qaeda strategy's to sow chaos, after failing to ignite a sectarian war. Iraqi MP Dr Mowaffak Rubaie told BBC's World Update programme the attacks were al-Qaeda's strategy to sow chaos, after failing to ignite a sectarian war.
He said: "Now they are trying to create general anarchy all over the country… towards the general election. This is to show how weak the government is."He said: "Now they are trying to create general anarchy all over the country… towards the general election. This is to show how weak the government is."