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Explosion at Iraq parliament cafe Explosion at Iraq parliament cafe
(about 1 hour later)
An explosion has hit a cafeteria at the Iraqi parliament, killing at least two MPs and injuring at least 15 people, witnesses and security officials say.An explosion has hit a cafeteria at the Iraqi parliament, killing at least two MPs and injuring at least 15 people, witnesses and security officials say.
Police said they believed a suicide bomber was involved, but that they were keeping an open mind about the cause.Police said they believed a suicide bomber was involved, but that they were keeping an open mind about the cause.
The cafe, in Baghdad's highly fortified Green Zone, is for MPs and their staff, some of whom were having lunch there.The cafe, in Baghdad's highly fortified Green Zone, is for MPs and their staff, some of whom were having lunch there.
Earlier, a bomb on a bridge in Baghdad killed at least eight people and sent several cars into the River Tigris.Earlier, a bomb on a bridge in Baghdad killed at least eight people and sent several cars into the River Tigris.
Click here for a aerial map of the Green Zone Click here for a aerial map of the Green Zone
The bridge and the cafeteria attacks are major blows to the much trumpeted Baghdad security surge now in its third month, the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says. The two attacks are major blows to the much-trumpeted Baghdad security surge now in its third month, the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says.
The security drive has brought down the rate of sectarian murders, but it has not stopped the bomb attacks. The convention centre where parliament meets is one of the most heavily guarded buildings in the country, he says. There are sniffer dogs, and all the other usual precautions are taken. Sometimes several searches are made within the space of just a few metres.
Chaos Chaos and confusion
MP Mohammed Hassan Awad from the National Dialogue bloc (a Sunni group not part of the government) was killed in the blast.
Another MP was also killed and at least three more parliamentarians were among the injured, a police source told the BBC.
We saw lots of smoke coming from the hall, with people lying on the ground and pools of blood Parliamentary official
The security around the parliament building and around the whole of the Green Zone is extremely tight, so it is very hard to see how a bomb could have been smuggled in there, says our correspondent.
The bomb went off 10 minutes after the parliament had adjourned for lunch.The bomb went off 10 minutes after the parliament had adjourned for lunch.
We saw lots of smoke coming from the hall, with people lying on the ground and pools of blood Parliamentary official
It exploded in the cafeteria on the first floor where the deputies, their staff and parliamentary officials were taking their break.It exploded in the cafeteria on the first floor where the deputies, their staff and parliamentary officials were taking their break.
Windows were blown out and there was chaos and confusion. MP Mohammed Hassan Awad from the National Dialogue bloc (a Sunni group not part of the government) was killed in the blast.
One witness said there were many casualties, but most telecommunications were disrupted and no clear figures were available. Another MP was also killed and at least three more parliamentarians were among the injured, a police source told the BBC.
"We heard a huge explosion inside the restaurant," a parliamentary official at the scene told Reuters news agency. Media reports said a third person, a parliamentary employee, had died.
Windows were blown out in the attack and there was chaos and confusion. "We heard a huge explosion inside the restaurant," a parliamentary official at the scene told Reuters news agency.
"We went to see what was going on. We saw lots of smoke coming from the hall, with people lying on the ground and pools of blood.""We went to see what was going on. We saw lots of smoke coming from the hall, with people lying on the ground and pools of blood."
Condemnation This is the first time a bomb has gone off inside the building although it has been shaken by several mortar attacks in the past. Several MPs have been assassinated outside the Green Zone.
It is the first time a bomb has gone off inside the parliament building although it has been shaken by several mortar attacks in the past. The security drive has brought down the rate of sectarian murders, but it has not stopped the bomb attacks.
Access to the building is subject to very tight additional security measures. Several of its members have been assassinated outside the Green Zone
The bombing of the Sarafiya bridge, one of the main arterial bridges in Baghdad, had been condemned by the speaker of parliament a short time before the explosion in his own building.The bombing of the Sarafiya bridge, one of the main arterial bridges in Baghdad, had been condemned by the speaker of parliament a short time before the explosion in his own building.
The bridge, one of the main linking the two halves of the capital across the Tigris river, was partially demolished by a huge truck bomb. The bridge, one of the main linking the two halves of the capital across the Tigris River, was partially demolished by a huge truck bomb.
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Are you in Iraq? Do you know anyone who has been affected by the bomb blasts? Send us your comments.Are you in Iraq? Do you know anyone who has been affected by the bomb blasts? Send us your comments.
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