Deadly bomb blasts hit Iraq

According to a number of sources, dozens of people have been killed and many injured in a series of bomb attacks across Iraq. At least four people died when two car bombs targeting Shi'a pilgrims went off in the town of Karbala.

Further bombings have been reported in Diwaniya, where an estimated 25 people died, and Taji. There has been a surge of attacks in Iraq in recent weeks; with highest number of deaths reported in June, since US troops withdrew in December.

It is thought that the Karbala attacks were targeting Shi'a pilgrims congregating before a religious ceremony on Friday 6 July. The attack is said to have injured at least 30 people.

According to Reuters news agency, a car bomb at a market in the city of Diwaniya killed at least 25 people and injured 40 others. While deadly blast in the Sunni city of Taji have killed three people and injured 15 more. According to AP news agency, a policeman was among the dead.

In other news, Iraq's oil revenues have dropped by 17.6 per cent from May to June. According to the government, this is due to dipping prices in the international market and the diversion of some production to meet domestic needs.

The violence-plagued country is heavily reliant on oil revenues, which make up about 95 per cent of the fragile democratic government's budget. Oil Ministry spokesman Assem Jihad said Iraq earned $6.453 billion in June, with an achieved average price of $90 p/b. May's revenues stood at $7.831 billion with an average price of $103.039 p/b. It is estimated that June's oil exports averaged out at 2.403 million b/d, down from an average of 2.452 million b/d in May as the ministry diverted some production to refineries.

Sources: AP, BBC News, Reuters

For more news and expert analysis about Iraq, please see Iraq Focus.

Deadly blasts hit Iraq

A number of deadly bomb attacks have hit several Iraqi cities, reportedly killing 23 people and injuring many others. According to the police, explosions were reported in Baghdad, Baquba, Kirkuk, Samarra, Dibis and Taji.

It appears that the security forces appear to be the main target. Iraq has seen an overall decline in violence in recent years, but isolated bomb attacks remain prevalent. According to the BBC, a number of attacks have been co-ordinated. They reportedly occurred in the following cities:

In Baghdad, a succession of at least five bomb blasts hit in various Shi'a neighbourhoods
Two car bombs reportedly went off in Kirkuk, 290km north of Baghdad
A suicide bomber killed a police officer in Baquba
Two car bombs targeted security forces in Samarra
A parked car exploded killing passers-by in Dibis
A roadside device exploded in Taji.
The bomb blasts, which ensued over a period of an hour and a half, also appear to have targeted the convoy of Health Minister Majeed Hamad Amin. The official was not injured.

According to Baghdad's military command spokesman Col Dhia al-Wakeel the attacks bore all the hallmarks of al-Qa'ida. He said: "They want to send a message that they can target the stability that has been achieved recently...This will not discourage our security forces."

Sources: BBC News, Reuters, WSJ

For more news and expert analysis about Iraq, please see Iraq Focus.

Baghdad bomb blasts kill eight

According to Iraqi officials, at least eight people have been killed in bomb blasts in a market in Baghdad. Three explosions went off in the commercial district of Shurja, as people were buying food for the major Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. It is thought that at least 21 people were injured in the attacks.

Violence in Iraq has declined since 2006-7, but isolated attacks on civilians and security personnel are still prevalent. The latest explosions come amid increased security across Iraq for the Eid holiday.

The bombs are thought to have been planted throughout the market in order to cause maximum damage, and parts of it were on fire after the explosions. One witness told Reuters news agency: "I can see fire and black smoke mounting and a large number of fire engines, ambulances and police patrols rushing to the market.”

There has been a spurge of violence in the country as the last of the US troops prepare to leave for good. Official figures says 258 people were killed in violence nationwide in October. The increase has raised concerns that the violence might increase even more once the US military hands over security responsibilities to the Iraqis.

Sources: BBC News, WSJ, AFP

For more news and expert analysis about Iraq, please see Iraq Focus.

At least nine dead in Baghdad bomb blasts

Iraqi officials say that a number of bomb explosions in Baghdad have killed at least nine people and wounded 20 others. It is thought that the thee blasts were intended for the security forces.

Attacks on the country's security personnel have become more frequent in recent months, as the US army prepares to withdraw by the end of 2011. Some are worried that the withdrawal will leave a security gap in the country making both civilians and officials more susceptible to attacks.

The first explosion was caused by a roadside bomb targeting an army patrol in a western area, quickly followed by a second bomb nearby. The third blast occurred as fire crews arrived on the scene following the first explosion.

US and Iraq are reportedly in talks over whether or not to retain a marginal military presence in the country until 2012.

In related news, six members of a land mine removal brigade died when a controlled detonation of old land mines went wrong. The incident took place near the city of Basra some 550km southeast of Baghdad, on Saturday 8th October. The mine erupted while the group was investigating the site, killing three Iraqi soldiers and three explosives experts.

Sources: BBC News, Voice of America, NPR, AP

For more news and expert analysis about Iraq, please see Iraq Focus.

Bomb blasts in Baghdad kill three

On Thursday 11th August, two bomb blasts killed three people in western Iraq. Meanwhile a succession of four explosions in Baghdad wounded 10 others. It is estimated that around 39 people were wounded in violence on Thursday.

In Baghdad, two bombs went off near alcohol shops in the commercial district of Karrada wounding four civilians. Another bomb targeted an army patrol in Dura in the south of the capital, injuring three soldiers, while a fourth exploded in the Al-Amil neighbourhood in south Baghdad, wounding three civilians.

In the western predominantly Sunni city of Ramadi, meanwhile, two explosions against the home of a police officer killed three and wounded 24 others.

Anbar province, of which Ramadi is the capital, was a key Sunni insurgent base in the years after the US-led invasion of 2003, but since 2006 local tribes have sided with the American military and day-to-day violence has dropped dramatically.

The city has been the target of several attacks in recent months, however.

In June, at least three explosions near provincial government offices in Ramadi killed 10 and wounded 15. In January, a suicide bomber blew up an explosives-packed car in a convoy carrying Anbar governor Qassim Mohammed Abid, wounding three bodyguards and six policemen but leaving Abid unharmed.

Violence in Iraq has declined from its peak in 2006 and 2007, but attacks remain common. A total of 259 Iraqis were killed in attacks in July, the second-highest figure for 2011.

Sources: AFP, The Associated Press, China Daily

For more news and expert analysis about Iraq, please see Iraq Focus .