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Iraq bombings kill at least five in Diwaniya market | Iraq bombings kill at least five in Diwaniya market |
(about 5 hours later) | |
At least five people have been killed in a double car bombing at a market in the southern Iraqi city of Diwaniya, officials say. | At least five people have been killed in a double car bombing at a market in the southern Iraqi city of Diwaniya, officials say. |
The cars exploded simultaneously at about 07:30 (04:30 GMT), police said. | The cars exploded simultaneously at about 07:30 (04:30 GMT), police said. |
The attack in the mainly Shia city comes amid heightened tensions between Iraq's Sunni and Shia communities. | |
At a Sunni protest in Ramadi, west of Baghdad, the finance minister Rafie al-Issawi announced his resignation from the Shia-led government. | |
Mr Issawi is the most high profile Sunni member of the government, led by Shia Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. | |
The arrest of his bodyguards in December last year sparked Sunni anti-government protests that have continued in several cities. | |
String of attacks | |
Protesters accuse Mr Maliki of attempting to monopolise power and marginalise the Sunni minority. | |
Although sectarian violence has decreased in Iraq since the height of the insurgency in 2006 and 2007, bombings and shootings are still common. | Although sectarian violence has decreased in Iraq since the height of the insurgency in 2006 and 2007, bombings and shootings are still common. |
There has been a string of bomb attacks across Iraq in recent months. | |
Sunni insurgents linked to al-Qaeda have been blamed for the rise in violence, although no-one has claimed responsibility for Friday's attack. | Sunni insurgents linked to al-Qaeda have been blamed for the rise in violence, although no-one has claimed responsibility for Friday's attack. |
Reuters news agency said the target was a sheep market in Diwaniya, about 130km (80 miles) south of Baghdad. | Reuters news agency said the target was a sheep market in Diwaniya, about 130km (80 miles) south of Baghdad. |
"I came to buy some calves and was checking them when the explosion happened. I threw myself on the ground, then the second explosion happened," Jassim Khalid, a butcher, told the agency. | "I came to buy some calves and was checking them when the explosion happened. I threw myself on the ground, then the second explosion happened," Jassim Khalid, a butcher, told the agency. |
It comes a day after at least 22 people were killed in a series of bomb attacks in Shia neighbourhoods of the capital, Baghdad. | It comes a day after at least 22 people were killed in a series of bomb attacks in Shia neighbourhoods of the capital, Baghdad. |
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