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Iraq deadly bombings hit Nasariyah, Kirkuk and Baghdad | Iraq deadly bombings hit Nasariyah, Kirkuk and Baghdad |
(about 7 hours later) | |
At least 31 people have been killed and more than 200 others wounded in a series of early-morning explosions in cities across Iraq, officials say. | |
Attacks were reported in Baghdad, as well as Tuz Khurmatu and Kirkuk in the north and Nasariyah in the south. | Attacks were reported in Baghdad, as well as Tuz Khurmatu and Kirkuk in the north and Nasariyah in the south. |
The co-ordinated attacks occurred during the morning rush hour and mainly involved car bombs. | The co-ordinated attacks occurred during the morning rush hour and mainly involved car bombs. |
The violence comes ahead of Iraq's provincial elections on 20 April, the first in the country since 2010. | The violence comes ahead of Iraq's provincial elections on 20 April, the first in the country since 2010. |
Monday's attacks were particularly broad in scope, with several cities hit, including Fallujah, Tikrit, Samarra and Hilla. | Monday's attacks were particularly broad in scope, with several cities hit, including Fallujah, Tikrit, Samarra and Hilla. |
The explosions were caused by 20 cars packed with explosives and three roadside bombs, AFP news agency reported. | |
Three car bombs went off minutes apart in Tuz Khurmatu, killing six people and wounding more than 60, AFP said. | |
Simultaneous blasts | |
A number of attacks were also reported in Baghdad. | A number of attacks were also reported in Baghdad. |
In one incident, two car bombs claimed two lives and wounded 17 at a checkpoint at the heavily guarded airport, Reuters reported. | In one incident, two car bombs claimed two lives and wounded 17 at a checkpoint at the heavily guarded airport, Reuters reported. |
In the northern city of Kirkuk, nine people were killed when six car bombs went off simultaneously, police said. | In the northern city of Kirkuk, nine people were killed when six car bombs went off simultaneously, police said. |
Three of the bombs exploded in Kirkuk's city centre - one in an Arab district, one in a Kurdish area, and a third in a Turkomen district, the Associated Press (AP) reported. | |
Other blasts were reported elsewhere in the city, which is home to a mix of ethnic groups with competing claims. | Other blasts were reported elsewhere in the city, which is home to a mix of ethnic groups with competing claims. |
Elsewhere, gunmen armed with pistols fitted with silencers shot and killed a police officer while he was driving his car in the town of Tarmiyah, 30 miles (50 km) north of Baghdad, AP said. | Elsewhere, gunmen armed with pistols fitted with silencers shot and killed a police officer while he was driving his car in the town of Tarmiyah, 30 miles (50 km) north of Baghdad, AP said. |
No group has admitted carrying out Monday's attacks. | No group has admitted carrying out Monday's attacks. |
But they come at a time when tensions are high between Iraq's Sunni and Shia, amid claims by the majority Sunni Muslim communities that they are being marginalised by Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's Shia-led government. | But they come at a time when tensions are high between Iraq's Sunni and Shia, amid claims by the majority Sunni Muslim communities that they are being marginalised by Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's Shia-led government. |
Sunni Islamist militants linked to al-Qaeda have attempted to destabilise the government by stepping up attacks, mainly on Shia but also Sunni targets this year. | Sunni Islamist militants linked to al-Qaeda have attempted to destabilise the government by stepping up attacks, mainly on Shia but also Sunni targets this year. |
Although violence has decreased in Iraq since the peak of the insurgency in 2006 and 2007, bombings are still common. | Although violence has decreased in Iraq since the peak of the insurgency in 2006 and 2007, bombings are still common. |