51 die in wave of bombings in Baghdad

 
Bombing: Iraqi civilians inspect the site of a explosion in Baghdad
AFP
Bo Wilson28 August 2013

A co-ordinated wave of bombings killed at least 51 people in the Iraqi capital today in the latest strike of relentless violence to hit the country.

The attacks struck in mainly Shi’ite neighbourhoods in and around Baghdad. A further 150 people were wounded in the 10 blasts.

The bombings are the latest in the worst spate of bloodshed in Iraq for five years, leaving thousands dead since April, increasing fears that Iraq is on its way to a civil war fuelled by growing political divisions between Shi’ite, Sunni and ethnic Kurdish factions.

The blasts, in cars and on suicide bombers, which came in quick succession, targeted residents out shopping and on their way to work.

They exploded in car parks, outdoor markets and restaurants, according to officials.

Explosion: Iraqi security forces and civilians check the site of a bomb in Baghdad
AFP

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the attacks bore the hallmarks of the Iraqi branch of al-Qaida, which frequently targets Shi’ites, employing coordinated bombings in an attempt to incite sectarian strife.

The northern neighborhood of Kazimiyah, home to a prominent, gold-domed Shi’ite shrine, was the worst hit.

Two bombs went off in a car park, followed by a suicide car bomber who struck onlookers who had gathered at the scene. Police said a total of 10 people were killed and 27 wounded.

Other areas that were hit included the sprawling slum of Sadr City and neighboring Jamila, and the neighborhoods of Shaab, Shula, and Mahmoudiyah.

Medical officials confirmed the casualty figures.

The violence follows months of protests by Iraq’s Sunni minority against the Shi’ite-led government that began late last year.

Attacks have been on the rise since a deadly security crackdown by security forces on a Sunni protest in April.

In response, clerics and other influential Shi’ite and Sunni leaders have called for restraint.

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