This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25405272
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Iraq violence: More than 70 people killed in attacks | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Iraq has suffered one of its bloodiest days in recent months with a wave of attacks killing more than 70 people, many of them pilgrims. | |
The deadliest single attack came in the evening when two car bombs targeting Shia pilgrims killed at least 20 in Rashid, a southern suburb of Baghdad. | |
Thousands of Shia are currently making their way to the holy city of Karbala. | |
Violence in Iraq this year has reached a level not seen since 2008, raising fears of a return to civil war. | Violence in Iraq this year has reached a level not seen since 2008, raising fears of a return to civil war. |
A further 21 people died in a series of bomb blasts around the capital earlier in the day. | A further 21 people died in a series of bomb blasts around the capital earlier in the day. |
Scores more were injured in Monday's violence. | |
Brazen attacks | |
Earlier in the day, militants tried to storm a police station in the town of Baiji and a council headquarters in the city of Tikrit. | |
They were reported to have briefly taken hostages in a council building in Tikrit before it was retaken by security forces. | |
At least nine people were killed in Baiji while another three died in the attack in Tikrit. | |
A bus carrying Shia pilgrims in the northern city of Mosul was also targeted in a gun attack which killed 12 people. | A bus carrying Shia pilgrims in the northern city of Mosul was also targeted in a gun attack which killed 12 people. |
Correspondents say the attacks show how insurgents are now targeting symbols of government authority on a near daily basis. | Correspondents say the attacks show how insurgents are now targeting symbols of government authority on a near daily basis. |
The UN has said the monthly death toll dropped to 659 in November, including 565 civilians and 94 members of the Iraqi security forces, compared with 979 in October. | The UN has said the monthly death toll dropped to 659 in November, including 565 civilians and 94 members of the Iraqi security forces, compared with 979 in October. |
But more than 7,150 civilians and 950 security forces personnel have now been killed since January, the highest annual toll since 2008. | But more than 7,150 civilians and 950 security forces personnel have now been killed since January, the highest annual toll since 2008. |