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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Iraqi suicide bombings 'kill 27' | Iraqi suicide bombings 'kill 27' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Three suicide attacks in the central Iraqi city of Baquba have killed at least 27 people and injured 40 more. | Three suicide attacks in the central Iraqi city of Baquba have killed at least 27 people and injured 40 more. |
| Two explosions happened within minutes near a police checkpoint in the city, 60km (40 miles) north of the capital Baghdad. | Two explosions happened within minutes near a police checkpoint in the city, 60km (40 miles) north of the capital Baghdad. |
| A third blast shortly afterwards targeted the city's main hospital. | A third blast shortly afterwards targeted the city's main hospital. |
| The attacks came just days before nationwide parliamentary elections, only the second such polls since Saddam Hussein was ousted in 2003. | The attacks 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 (0630 GMT), when a suicide car bomber crashed and detonated his vehicle at a police checkpoint. | The first attack came at around 0930 (0630 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. | The second car bomber struck moments later at a nearby road junction. |
| Sectarian tensions | Sectarian tensions |
| The attacks come amid heightened sectarian tension ahead Sunday's polls, with fears Iraq could slide back into sectarian violence. | 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 Iraqi troops, says the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Baghdad. | |
| Iraqi police and military are mounting a vast nationwide operation involving hundreds of thousands of personnel, to try to prevent attacks of this kind in the run-up to Sunday's parliamentary vote, adds our correspondent. | Iraqi police and military are mounting a vast nationwide operation involving hundreds of thousands of personnel, to try to prevent attacks of this kind in the run-up to Sunday's parliamentary vote, adds our correspondent. |
| There have been angry protests by both Sunni and Shia groups ahead of the election, with Sunni groups complaining they are being discriminated against. | There have been angry protests by both Sunni and Shia groups ahead of the election, with Sunni groups complaining they are being discriminated against. |
| Shia parties insist the Baathists must be purged and have voiced fears about what they see as American interference in the electoral process. | 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. | 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. | 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? | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the bomb attacks? |
| Send your comments using the post form below. | 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. | 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 | 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 |