Iraq

Over 60 killed in bomb blasts

Article published on the 2009-05-21 Latest update 2009-05-21 14:09 TU

A woman walks beside a damaged vehicle at the site of the bomb attack in Baghdad's Shula district
(Photo: Reuters)

Over 60 people have been killed in 24 hours in four bomb blasts in Iraq. On Thursday 23 people died in three attacks, while the death toll from a car bomb on Wednesday has risen to 40.

At least 12 people were killed and 25 wounded by a suicide bomber on a crowded market in the south Baghdad district of Dora, according to the Defence Ministry. The attacker was apparently targeting a patrol of US soldiers. American soldiers were among the victims, according to Iraqi officials, but the US army has not confirmed the claim.

Three police officers were killed and 12 injured by a blast at a Baghdad police station, according to security officials. A dustman appears to have planted the bomb, which also injured eight members of the public.

In the oil town of Kirkuk, 255  kilometers north of Baghdad, a suicide bomber killed eight members of the Sahwa (Awakening) militias, Sunni-muslim fighters who previously fought the occupation but are now working with it against Al-Qaida.  

On Thursday a powerful car bomb hit the poor, predominantly Shia-Muslim Shula district in north-west Baghdad. The death toll now stands at 40, with 83 wounded, according to Interior Ministry officials.

The number of victims is the highest since 29 April, when more than 50 people were killed by car bombs in three Shia neighbourhoods. Attacks in April claimed 355 people, a rise in violence, often apparently sectarian attacks on Shia, after several months of decline.

US troops are scheduled to leave towns and cities by 30 June, ahead of withdrawal of active troops by the end of 2011.