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/8546744.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Iraqi suicide bombings 'kill 10' | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Twin suicide attacks in the central Iraqi city of Baquba have killed at least 10 people and injured 20 more. | |
| The two explosions happened within minutes near a police checkpoint in the city, 60km (40 miles) north of the capital Baghdad. | |
| Two policemen were among those killed, local reports said. | Two policemen were among those killed, local reports said. |
| The blasts came just days before nationwide parliamentary elections, only the second such polls since Saddam Hussein was ousted in 2003. | The blasts came just days before nationwide parliamentary elections, only the second such polls since Saddam Hussein was ousted in 2003. |
| The first attack came at around 0930 (0730 GMT), when a suicide car bomber crashed and detonated his vehicle at a police checkpoint. | |
| The second car bomber struck moments later at a nearby road junction. | |
| There were also reports of a third attack by a female suicide bomber at one of the city's hospitals, but police gave no further details. | |
| Sectarian tensions | |
| The attacks come amid heightened sectarian tension ahead Sunday's polls, with fears Iraq could slide back into sectarian violence. | |
| Baquba has been the scene of occasional fighting between Islamist militants and US-backed Afghan troops, says the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Baghdad. | |
| Iraqi forces have deployed in large numbers across the country to try and prevent attacks of this kind, adds our correspondent. | |
| In the run-up to the election there have been angry protests by both Sunni and Shia groups. | |
| Shia parties insist the Baathists must be purged and have voiced fears about what they see as American interference in the electoral process. | |
| Baathism is a form of secular Arab nationalism and was the ideology espoused by Saddam Hussein when he came to power. | |
| Although a minority, Sunni Muslims were dominant under Saddam Hussein's rule but have since complained of being marginalised under the post-Saddam Shia-led government. | |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the bomb attacks? | |
| Send your comments using the post form below. | |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |