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Twin bombings in Baghdad kill 43 Twin bombings kill 50 in Baghdad
(30 minutes later)
Two bombs in busy Baghdad markets have killed at least 43 people, in the deadliest bombings in the capital for several months. Two bombs in busy Baghdad markets have killed at least 50 people.
The first blast struck at around 1020 local time (0720GMT) in a popular animal market. The first blast, believed to have been detonated by a female suicide bomber, struck at around 1020 local time (0720GMT) in a popular animal market.
The bomb, which was hidden in a box of birds, exploded during a busy time for the market, also injuring 75 people. A second blast 20 minutes later tore through another crowded market in the east of the capital.
A second blast 20 minutes later tore through another crowded market in the southeast of the capital. Friday's death toll was the city's deadliest since violence fell in the wake of a US troop surge in the second half of 2007.
Correspondents say the fragile sense of normality in the capital that has followed significant improvements in security could be shattered by such deadly bombings. Correspondents say a fragile sense of normality in the capital had followed significant improvements in security since the troop surge.
The fall in violence is largely attributed to a US troop surge in the Baghdad in the second half of 2007. Confidence shattered
Also contributing to a new sense of security was a ceasefire announced in August by the Mehdi Army militia of Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr and the emergence of local Sunni militia armed by the US military that took on al-Qaeda in Iraq. A ceasefire announced in August by the Mehdi Army militia of Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr, as well as the emergence of local Sunni militia armed by the US military that took on al-Qaeda in Iraq, have also contributed to the sense of security.
'Too many bodies to count' We have disaster here. There are too many bodies to count Baghdad hospital official
But the renewed confidence could be shattered by Friday's deadly bombings.
With police and medical officials piling the wounded into the back of pick-up trucks, an official at Baghdad's Kindi hospital said at least 30 bodies had been received.With police and medical officials piling the wounded into the back of pick-up trucks, an official at Baghdad's Kindi hospital said at least 30 bodies had been received.
"We have a disaster here. There are too many bodies to count," he said. "We have a disaster here," he said. "There are too many bodies to count."
A popular spectacle for Baghdadis, Ghazil market only opens on Fridays and is always crowded. A popular spectacle for Baghdadis, Ghazil market only opens on Fridays and is always crowded, despite having been targeted by bombers twice in 2007.
Stall owners offer a large selection of exotic birds, as well as rabbits and cats smuggled from Brazil and Africa, using cardboard boxes to transport the animals to the market.Stall owners offer a large selection of exotic birds, as well as rabbits and cats smuggled from Brazil and Africa, using cardboard boxes to transport the animals to the market.