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Dozens Killed in Wave of Attacks in Baghdad Dozens Killed in Wave of Attacks in Baghdad
(about 4 hours later)
BAGHDAD — A wave of apparently coordinated bombings hit bakeries and public markets in Baghdad on Wednesday, killing at least 37 people and wounding more than 80, many of them as they rushed to shop during a break in heavy rainstorms, according to the police, residents and medical officials. BAGHDAD — A wave of apparently coordinated bombings hit bakeries and public markets in Baghdad on Wednesday, killing at least 42 people and wounding more than 90, many of them as they rushed to shop during a break in heavy rainstorms, according to the police, residents and medical officials.
The attacks, most of them car bombings, targeted Shiites and Sunnis, reflecting the protracted sectarian violence that has spiked since the American withdrawal in 2011 and raising concerns that Iraq is facing levels of strife not seen for years.The attacks, most of them car bombings, targeted Shiites and Sunnis, reflecting the protracted sectarian violence that has spiked since the American withdrawal in 2011 and raising concerns that Iraq is facing levels of strife not seen for years.
One attack struck Shiite Muslims during religious observances for Muharram requiring them to prepare food for the poor, witnesses said. That bombing, in the Karada neighborhood, killed 7 people and wounded 19, the police said. One attack struck Shiite Muslims during religious observances for Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, as they prepared food for the poor, witnesses said. That bombing, in the Karada neighborhood, killed 7 people and wounded 19, the police said.
Another bomb erupted near a bakery where people were buying bread for breakfast, killing 5 and wounding 13, officials said. In Adhamiya, a Sunni neighborhood north of Baghdad, a bomb in a parked car exploded near a bakery, killing 3 people. Another bomb erupted near a bakery where people were buying bread for breakfast, killing 5 and wounding 13, officials said. In Adhamiya, a mostly Sunni neighborhood in northern Baghdad, a bomb in a parked car exploded near another bakery, killing 3 people.
Other car bombs tore through five public markets in other Baghdad neighborhoods, including Sadr City, a Shiite stronghold, killing 22 people.Other car bombs tore through five public markets in other Baghdad neighborhoods, including Sadr City, a Shiite stronghold, killing 22 people.
Augmenting the sense of lawlessness, gunmen killed Col. Sruit Hama, the head of security for President Jalal Talabani, in the northern Kurdish city of Sulaymaniya late Tuesday, security officials said. Mr. Talabani, 80, has been in Germany for medical treatment since December after suffering a stroke. Colonel Hama had been planning to fly there on Wednesday to join him. In the evening, a bomb exploded in a cafe in the Shiite neighborhood of Baya where young people gather to smoke hookahs, killing 5 youths and wounding 10 others, a police official said.
In a separate episode west of Baghdad, Khasim al-Mashhadany, a prominent Sunni cleric in the Ghazaliya neighborhood, was also shot to death, the officials said. Augmenting the sense of lawlessness, gunmen killed Col. Sruit Hama, the head of security for President Jalal Talabani, in the northern Kurdish city of Sulaimaniya late Tuesday, security officials said. Mr. Talabani, 80, has been in Germany for medical treatment since December after suffering a stroke. Colonel Hama had been planning to fly there on Wednesday to join him.
The chaos left by the bombings was compounded by heavy rains and flooding that had forced the authorities to declare a public holiday and hampered ambulances trying to reach the sites of the explosions. In a separate episode in the western Baghdad neighborhood of Ghazaliya, Khasim al-Mashhadany, a prominent Sunni cleric, was also shot to death, the officials said.
The car bombs went off between 9 a.m. and 10:15 a.m., as families shopped between storms. The chaos left by the bombings was compounded by heavy rains and flooding that forced the authorities to declare a public holiday and hampered ambulances trying to reach the sites of the explosions.
“I just wanted to get breakfast for my kids,” said Muhsin Muntadhar, 45, who was wounded in his leg and back from an explosion near the bakery. “I never did something bad in my life. What did we do to deserve this? I hope one day I wake up from this nightmare.” The car bombs went off between 9 and 10:15 a.m., as families shopped between storms.
“I just wanted to get breakfast for my kids,” said Muhsin Muntadhar, 45, who was wounded in his leg and back from an explosion near one of the bakeries. “I never did something bad in my life. What did we do to deserve this? I hope one day I wake up from this nightmare.”
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the violence, though in the past, the authorities have blamed Sunni militants linked to Al Qaeda for similar attacks.No group immediately claimed responsibility for the violence, though in the past, the authorities have blamed Sunni militants linked to Al Qaeda for similar attacks.
But some Iraqis trace the growing violence to the civil war in neighboring Syria, which has intensified sectarian divisions between Sunnis supporting rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad and Shiites backing his government.But some Iraqis trace the growing violence to the civil war in neighboring Syria, which has intensified sectarian divisions between Sunnis supporting rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad and Shiites backing his government.
In Iraq, major bombings have become almost routine, pushing the levels of violence to the heights of five years ago, according to the United Nations, and reinforcing fears of the kind of sectarian warfare that seized the country in 2006 and 2007.In Iraq, major bombings have become almost routine, pushing the levels of violence to the heights of five years ago, according to the United Nations, and reinforcing fears of the kind of sectarian warfare that seized the country in 2006 and 2007.
The bloodletting has taken on broader regional overtones, with Shiite backers of Mr. Assad — notably Iran and its ally, the militant Lebanese group Hezbollah — drawn into the conflict while militant Sunnis, some linked to Al Qaeda, have flocked to the rebel cause in Syria, declaring jihad, or holy war, against their enemies. The bloodletting has taken on broader regional overtones, with Shiite backers of Mr. Assad — notably Iran and its ally Hezbollah, the militant Lebanese group — drawn into the conflict, while militant Sunnis, some linked to Al Qaeda, have flocked to the rebel cause in Syria, declaring jihad, or holy war, against their enemies.
Al Qaeda in Iraq, weakened during the final years of the American occupation, has rejuvenated and even expanded into Syria.Al Qaeda in Iraq, weakened during the final years of the American occupation, has rejuvenated and even expanded into Syria.
On Tuesday, the regional repercussions intensified when twin bombings struck the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, killing 23 people, in what was seen as a strike against Tehran’s regional influence.On Tuesday, the regional repercussions intensified when twin bombings struck the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, killing 23 people, in what was seen as a strike against Tehran’s regional influence.
Earlier this month, Iraq’s prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, traveled to Washington to press President Obama for help in fighting Al Qaeda terrorists in his country’s lawless west.Earlier this month, Iraq’s prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, traveled to Washington to press President Obama for help in fighting Al Qaeda terrorists in his country’s lawless west.
Iraqi officials said the government was appealing for a range of aid, including helicopter gunships and missiles, along with American intelligence and other forms of counterterrorism support, like reconnaissance drones.Iraqi officials said the government was appealing for a range of aid, including helicopter gunships and missiles, along with American intelligence and other forms of counterterrorism support, like reconnaissance drones.
The latest bombings in Baghdad came just days after explosions targeting public markets and security checkpoints killed 44 people across Iraq on Sunday, including 20 in a northern Turkmen-dominated city, and wounded over 100.The latest bombings in Baghdad came just days after explosions targeting public markets and security checkpoints killed 44 people across Iraq on Sunday, including 20 in a northern Turkmen-dominated city, and wounded over 100.

Duraid Adnan reported from Baghdad and Alan Cowell from London.

Duraid Adnan reported from Baghdad, and Alan Cowell from London.