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Iraq violence: Baghdad car bombs kill more than 50 | |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least 50 people have been killed in a series of explosions in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, police say. | |
Many more were wounded in the car bomb attacks, targeting mainly Shia districts of the capital, according to officials. | Many more were wounded in the car bomb attacks, targeting mainly Shia districts of the capital, according to officials. |
The violence comes amid a recent marked rise in attacks linked to growing political and sectarian tension. | The violence comes amid a recent marked rise in attacks linked to growing political and sectarian tension. |
The bloodshed has raised fears of a return to the levels of sectarian violence seen in 2006 and 2007. | The bloodshed has raised fears of a return to the levels of sectarian violence seen in 2006 and 2007. |
The latest attacks included up to 11 bombs in Baghdad city. | |
One bombing struck the busy commercial Sadoun Street in central Baghdad. One bystander who saw that attack, Zein al-Abidin, said a four-year-old child was among the victims. "What crime have those innocent people committed?" he asked. | One bombing struck the busy commercial Sadoun Street in central Baghdad. One bystander who saw that attack, Zein al-Abidin, said a four-year-old child was among the victims. "What crime have those innocent people committed?" he asked. |
No group has said it carried out the attacks, but tension between the Shia Muslim majority, which leads the government, and minority Sunnis has been growing since last year. | No group has said it carried out the attacks, but tension between the Shia Muslim majority, which leads the government, and minority Sunnis has been growing since last year. |
Sunnis have accused the government of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki of discriminating against them - something the government denies. | Sunnis have accused the government of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki of discriminating against them - something the government denies. |
Mr Maliki has vowed to make immediate changes to Iraq's security strategy, saying militants "will not be able to return us to the sectarian conflict". | Mr Maliki has vowed to make immediate changes to Iraq's security strategy, saying militants "will not be able to return us to the sectarian conflict". |
Monday's bombings come a week after more than 70 people were killed and many others injured in a series of attacks across the country, in what was described as one of the worst days for sectarian violence in Iraq for several years. | |
Baghdad was worst hit, with several explosions at bus stations and markets in mainly Shia Muslim districts. | |
Estimates put the number of deaths this month at more than 450 - the second consecutive month during which more than 400 people have been killed. | Estimates put the number of deaths this month at more than 450 - the second consecutive month during which more than 400 people have been killed. |