Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Wave of bombs in Iraq kills at least 72

Updated. A wave of bombings and shootings rocked Iraq during a major Shiite religious commemoration on Wednesday, killing at least 72  people and wounded some 250. The attacks were the deadliest since 68 people were killed in Iraq on 5 January. They came during commemorations for the death of Imam Musa Kadhim, the seventh of 12 revered imams in Shiite Islam, which take place this month.
Te bombs went off in Hilla (2 car bombs), Baghdad (10 bombs, of which one car bomb killing at least 16 pelgrims who were having breakfast in a tent), Baquba (9 bombs of which two car bombs and two shooting incidents), Kirkuk (3 car bombs), Balad (2 car bombs), Azaziyah, south of Baghdad (1 car bomb)  Kerbala (1 car bomb), Mosul (1 car bomb). 
Wednesday's attacks came during a political row that has seen opponents of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki mounting an attempt to oust him, but so far failed due to a lack of votes.
Maliki's opponents have for months accused him of monopolising decision-making and moving toward dictatorship.

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