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| Baghdad bombings kill at least 22 | Baghdad bombings kill at least 22 |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| At least 22 people have been killed in central Baghdad as bombers launched a co-ordinated attack that included an armed assault by gunmen on the Ministry of Justice. | At least 22 people have been killed in central Baghdad as bombers launched a co-ordinated attack that included an armed assault by gunmen on the Ministry of Justice. |
| Underlining the still-fragile security in the country, Iraqi security forces fought an hour-long battle with the attackers before storming the building and releasing hundreds of occupants trapped inside. The attack came days before the 10th anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq, which led to the fall of Saddam Hussein. | Underlining the still-fragile security in the country, Iraqi security forces fought an hour-long battle with the attackers before storming the building and releasing hundreds of occupants trapped inside. The attack came days before the 10th anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq, which led to the fall of Saddam Hussein. |
| Two car bombs exploded before a suicide car bomber blew himself up near an interior ministry office. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the attack bore the hallmarks of al-Qaida. | Two car bombs exploded before a suicide car bomber blew himself up near an interior ministry office. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the attack bore the hallmarks of al-Qaida. |
| The attack was launched as it was disclosed the US war in Iraq has cost $1.7tn with an additional $490bn in benefits owed to war veterans, expenses that could grow to more than $6tn over the next four decades counting interest, according to a study released on Thursday called Costs of War Project by the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University. | The attack was launched as it was disclosed the US war in Iraq has cost $1.7tn with an additional $490bn in benefits owed to war veterans, expenses that could grow to more than $6tn over the next four decades counting interest, according to a study released on Thursday called Costs of War Project by the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University. |
| Although violence has decreased since the end of the sectarian war in Iraq that followed, from 2005-08, which pitted Shia against Sunni, attacks remain commonplace. | Although violence has decreased since the end of the sectarian war in Iraq that followed, from 2005-08, which pitted Shia against Sunni, attacks remain commonplace. |
| Analysts have warned in recent weeks that al-Qaida in Iraq is regaining strength, its recruiting in the mainly Sunni northern and western provinces buoyed by a political crisis that has triggered widespread protests against the Shia-dominated government of Nouri-al Maliki by Sunni protesters. | Analysts have warned in recent weeks that al-Qaida in Iraq is regaining strength, its recruiting in the mainly Sunni northern and western provinces buoyed by a political crisis that has triggered widespread protests against the Shia-dominated government of Nouri-al Maliki by Sunni protesters. |
| The attack in the capital's Allawi neighbourhood, home to the Iraqi national museum, and close to the fortified Green Zone, began shortly after noon when two explosions detonated near the justice ministry. | The attack in the capital's Allawi neighbourhood, home to the Iraqi national museum, and close to the fortified Green Zone, began shortly after noon when two explosions detonated near the justice ministry. |
| A police officer who was among the troops sent to clear the area said approximately six gunmen wearing police uniforms stormed the building. Once inside one of them detonated a fourth suicide bomb. | A police officer who was among the troops sent to clear the area said approximately six gunmen wearing police uniforms stormed the building. Once inside one of them detonated a fourth suicide bomb. |
| "Everybody panicked and seconds later we heard a second explosion. I looked through the window and I saw some gunmen wearing police uniforms entering the building. We knew that these policemen were fake," said Asmaa Abbas, a justice ministry employee who was working in her third-floor office told Associated Press. | "Everybody panicked and seconds later we heard a second explosion. I looked through the window and I saw some gunmen wearing police uniforms entering the building. We knew that these policemen were fake," said Asmaa Abbas, a justice ministry employee who was working in her third-floor office told Associated Press. |
| The assault was followed by more explosions including next to headquarters for the security force MPs, government ministers and other senior officials. | The assault was followed by more explosions including next to headquarters for the security force MPs, government ministers and other senior officials. |
| After about an hour, security forces stormed the building and some of the gunmen detonated explosives they were wearing, the officer on the scene said. | After about an hour, security forces stormed the building and some of the gunmen detonated explosives they were wearing, the officer on the scene said. |
| "It was the longest hour in my life," added Abbas. | "It was the longest hour in my life," added Abbas. |
| The deputy justice minister, Busho Ibrahim, said there were more than 1,000 people in the four-storey building at the time of the attack. He said the minister was overseas. | The deputy justice minister, Busho Ibrahim, said there were more than 1,000 people in the four-storey building at the time of the attack. He said the minister was overseas. |
| "When the explosions and shooting started the guards evacuated me out a back door, and I have no idea what happened after that," he said. | "When the explosions and shooting started the guards evacuated me out a back door, and I have no idea what happened after that," he said. |
| The Baghdad attack follows an ambush, claimed by al-Qaida, that killed 51 Syrian soldiers who had fled across the border and nine Iraqis in a well-planned assault in western Iraq on 4 March. | The Baghdad attack follows an ambush, claimed by al-Qaida, that killed 51 Syrian soldiers who had fled across the border and nine Iraqis in a well-planned assault in western Iraq on 4 March. |
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