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At least 57 killed in co-ordinated Baghdad attacks | |
(40 minutes later) | |
A wave of apparently co-ordinated bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, have killed at least 57 people and injured more than 170, say officials. | |
The interior ministry said 13 locations had been attacked, including al-Amil in the south of the city and Halawi and Karrada closer to the centre. | The interior ministry said 13 locations had been attacked, including al-Amil in the south of the city and Halawi and Karrada closer to the centre. |
The bombings are the worst in months - and follow the withdrawal of US troops. | |
They come amid fears of rising sectarian tensions as the unity government faces internal divisions. | |
It was not immediately clear who was behind the attacks. | |
However, analysts say the level of co-ordination suggests a planning capability only available to al-Qaeda in Iraq. | However, analysts say the level of co-ordination suggests a planning capability only available to al-Qaeda in Iraq. |
Bombings remain common in Iraq despite an overall fall in violence. | |
In al-Amil there were two blasts, the second of which appeared to target rescuers who had come to the scene of the first explosion. | In al-Amil there were two blasts, the second of which appeared to target rescuers who had come to the scene of the first explosion. |
Raghad Khalid, a teacher at a kindergarten in Karrada, said all their windows had been blown out. | Raghad Khalid, a teacher at a kindergarten in Karrada, said all their windows had been blown out. |
"The children were scared and crying. Some parts of the car bomb are inside our building." | "The children were scared and crying. Some parts of the car bomb are inside our building." |
Smoke was seen rising over Karrada district, with ambulances rushing to the scene. | Smoke was seen rising over Karrada district, with ambulances rushing to the scene. |
Another woman said her baby had been covered in glass. | Another woman said her baby had been covered in glass. |
"She is now scared in the next room. All countries are stable. Why don't we have security and stability?" said Um Hanin. | "She is now scared in the next room. All countries are stable. Why don't we have security and stability?" said Um Hanin. |
Political turmoil | Political turmoil |
Iraq's year-old power-sharing government is in turmoil after an arrest warrant was issued for Sunni Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi on terror charges. | Iraq's year-old power-sharing government is in turmoil after an arrest warrant was issued for Sunni Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi on terror charges. |
The entire al-Iraqiyya group, the main Sunni bloc in parliament, is boycotting the assembly in protest. It accuses Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, a Shia, of monopolising power. | The entire al-Iraqiyya group, the main Sunni bloc in parliament, is boycotting the assembly in protest. It accuses Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, a Shia, of monopolising power. |
Mr Hashemi denies the charges. He is currently in Irbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, under the protection of the regional government, but Mr Maliki has demanded that they give him up. | Mr Hashemi denies the charges. He is currently in Irbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, under the protection of the regional government, but Mr Maliki has demanded that they give him up. |
The last American troops departed from Iraq on Sunday, nearly nine years after the war that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. | The last American troops departed from Iraq on Sunday, nearly nine years after the war that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. |
President Barack Obama acknowledged that the situation was not perfect, but said the US forces were leaving behind "a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq, with a representative government elected by its people". | |
Are you in Baghdad? Did you witness the bomb attacks? Send us your account of what happened using the form below. | Are you in Baghdad? Did you witness the bomb attacks? Send us your account of what happened using the form below. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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