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| At least 63 killed in co-ordinated Baghdad attacks | At least 63 killed in co-ordinated Baghdad attacks |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A wave of apparently co-ordinated bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, has killed at least 63 people and injured around 185, say officials. | A wave of apparently co-ordinated bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, has killed at least 63 people and injured around 185, say officials. |
| The interior ministry told the BBC 14 blasts hit various locations, including al-Amil in the south and Halawi and Karrada closer to the centre. | The interior ministry told the BBC 14 blasts hit various locations, including al-Amil in the south and Halawi and Karrada closer to the centre. |
| The bombings are the worst in months - and follow the withdrawal of US troops. | 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. | 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. | It was not immediately clear who was behind the attacks. |
| This was a whole rash of co-ordinated bomb attacks of the sort that we saw during the worst of the insurgency. | |
| One would assume that Sunni-based insurgents are behind it. | One would assume that Sunni-based insurgents are behind it. |
| The problem is the current extremely heated political climate. The vice president - Iraq's senior Sunni politician - is hiding out in Iraqi Kurdistan with a warrant on his head on charges of involvement in terrorism. | The problem is the current extremely heated political climate. The vice president - Iraq's senior Sunni politician - is hiding out in Iraqi Kurdistan with a warrant on his head on charges of involvement in terrorism. |
| A lot of Shias, including the prime minister, will no doubt conclude that this is his revenge - that he or people close to him will have unleashed this as revenge against the Shias. | A lot of Shias, including the prime minister, will no doubt conclude that this is his revenge - that he or people close to him will have unleashed this as revenge against the Shias. |
| It is a very critical, very tense situation and these bombs will make it more so. | It is a very critical, very tense situation and these bombs will make it more so. |
| However, analysts say the level of co-ordination suggests a planning capability only available to al-Qaeda in Iraq, which is a mainly Sunni insurgent group. | However, analysts say the level of co-ordination suggests a planning capability only available to al-Qaeda in Iraq, which is a mainly Sunni insurgent group. |
| The bombs exploded as many people were travelling to work during the morning rush-hour. | The bombs exploded as many people were travelling to work during the morning rush-hour. |
| Four car-bombs and 10 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were detonated, officials told the BBC. | Four car-bombs and 10 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were detonated, officials told the BBC. |
| A security spokesman in Baghdad, Maj Gen Qassim Atta, said the attacks had not been aimed at security targets. | |
| "They targeted children's schools, day workers and the anti-corruption agency," he told AFP news agency. | |
| Raghad Khalid, a teacher at a kindergarten in Karrada, said "the children were scared and crying". | Raghad Khalid, a teacher at a kindergarten in Karrada, said "the children were scared and crying". |
| "Some parts of the car bomb are inside our building." | "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. |
| One Baghdad resident, Abu Ali, expressed anger at Iraq's leaders. | |
| "These blasts occurred because of conflicts among politicians," he said. | |
| "We call upon all politicians to resolve their problems and leave people to live in security." | |
| Sectarian tension | Sectarian tension |
| 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 BBC's Jim Muir says most Shias will conclude that Iraq's disaffected Sunni leadership was behind the latest attacks. | The BBC's Jim Muir says most Shias will conclude that Iraq's disaffected Sunni leadership was behind the latest attacks. |
| There is a strong possibility, he says, that insurgents on the Sunni side were just waiting for the most tense moment to unleash attacks they had been planning. | There is a strong possibility, he says, that insurgents on the Sunni side were just waiting for the most tense moment to unleash attacks they had been planning. |
| The leader of one of Iraq's largest Sunni tribes, Ali Hatem Suleiman, told the BBC that Prime Minister Maliki was becoming like Iraq's former ruler, Saddam Hussein. | |
| "Maliki will drive Iraq towards separation and will create a new dictatorship and take on Saddam's mantle." | |
| "Unfortunately this was all agreed upon by America - to hand over Iraq to a new dictator, and so Iraq will implode again," he said. | |
| 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". | 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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