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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Explosion at Iraq parliament cafe | Explosion at Iraq parliament cafe |
| (9 minutes 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 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 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 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. | 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. |
| 'Not failed' | 'Not failed' |
| Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said the attack was a "criminal cowardly act" and said the violence would not weaken MPs' resolve, AFP news agency reported. | Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said the attack was a "criminal cowardly act" and said the violence would not weaken MPs' resolve, AFP news agency reported. |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the attack showed terrorists were determined to destroy the Iraqi people's dreams of democracy but did not mean the security operation had failed. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the attack showed terrorists were determined to destroy the Iraqi people's dreams of democracy but did not mean the security operation had failed. |
| "This is the parliament building and that in a sense is an attempt to make an attack on the institution itself..." she said. | "This is the parliament building and that in a sense is an attempt to make an attack on the institution itself..." she said. |
| "We've said there are going to be good days and bad days concerning the security plan but the commanders are carrying out their responsibilities and working to try to make the population more secure." | "We've said there are going to be good days and bad days concerning the security plan but the commanders are carrying out their responsibilities and working to try to make the population more secure." |
| Chaos and confusion | Chaos and confusion |
| 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 | 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. Some reports say the bomb was detonated near the food queue. | |
| MP Mohammed Hassan Awad from the National Dialogue bloc (a Sunni group not part of the government) was killed in the blast. | 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. | Another MP was also killed and at least three more parliamentarians were among the injured, a police source told the BBC. |
| Unconfirmed Iraqi media reports said a third person, also an MP, had died. | |
| Windows were blown out in the attack and there was chaos and confusion. | Windows were blown out in the attack and there was chaos and confusion. |
| "We saw lots of smoke coming from the hall, with people lying on the ground and pools of blood," a parliamentary officials told Reuters news agency. | "We saw lots of smoke coming from the hall, with people lying on the ground and pools of blood," a parliamentary officials told Reuters news agency. |
| "The canteen was just filling up... the session was just ending and all of a sudden there was just this huge explosion," MP Haydar Abbadi told the BBC. | "The canteen was just filling up... the session was just ending and all of a sudden there was just this huge explosion," MP Haydar Abbadi told the BBC. |
| Despite the tight security it was possible for people without security clearance to get in without being searched, he added. | Despite the tight security it was possible for people without security clearance to get in without being searched, he added. |
| Partly demolished | Partly demolished |
| 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. | 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. |
| The security drive has brought down the rate of sectarian murders, but it has not stopped the bomb attacks. | The security drive has brought down the rate of sectarian murders, but it has not stopped the bomb attacks. |
| 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. |
| Click to return | Click to return |
| 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. |