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| Iraq |
| Iraqi Army blames deadly blasts in Baghdad on Saddam loyalists |
| 2009-05-02 |
| [Beirut Daily Star: Region] The Iraqi Army on Thursday blamed a wave of near-simultaneous bombings that killed more than 50 people in mostly Shiite districts of Baghdad on loyalists of Saddam Hussein's toppled regime. "This series of bombings was supposed to be carried out on the 28th, the birthday of Saddam Hussein," Baghdad security spokesman Major General Qassim Atta told AFP, referring to the former dictator executed in December 2006. "But because of the security measures that we took that day they could not carry it out," he said, adding that the attacks appeared to be aimed at sowing "sectarian strife" between Shiite and Sunni Muslims. Three car bombs on Wednesday tore through markets in the sprawling Shiite slum of Sadr City, the main stronghold of the anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr which was ruled by his Mehdi Army militia until a major US and Iraqi operation there last year. At least 51 people were killed and scores were wounded in the attacks, according to medics on Thursday. Another seven people were killed in four additional blasts in Shiite and mixed neighborhoods elsewhere in the capital, according to security officials. Atta said security forces were able to defuse another six car bombs set to go off at the same time. The attacks were reminiscent of the coordinated bombings of crowded Shiite areas during the height of Iraq's sectarian fighting in 2006, which provoked the kidnappings and executions of thousands of Sunni men by Shiite militias. A statement by the US military said the bombings had been meant to trigger the kind of confessional strife that swept Iraq in the wake of the 2003 US invasion that deposed Saddam and his Baathist regime. "These attacks are an attempt to incite sectarian violence, but the Iraqi people have shown that they are rejecting this bankrupt philosophy," it said. The Islamic Party - the largest Sunni party in Parliament - issued a statement Thursday condemning the attacks as a "criminal operation aimed at sowing terror and sectarian strife." "The Islamic Party strongly condemns this cowardly terrorist act and emphasizes that this new wave of explosions is a great conspiracy led by the enemies of Iraq," it said. Wednesday's attacks came a day after Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki hailed the arrest of Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, said to be the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq and blamed for a wave of attacks targeting Shiites and security forces. Maliki referred to Baghdadi as "the head of evil, the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq," and said he had ties to the followers of Saddam's regime. The Shiite premier's Dawa party said in a statement that Wednesday's attacks came in response to Baghdadi's detention. "These cowardly bombings carried out by the remnants of the Baath party and Al-Qaeda terrorists are a reaction to the arrest of the emir [commander] of terrorism in Iraq," it said, referring to Baghdadi. Iraq's Parliament meanwhile approved a measure proposed by Sadrist MPs to summon senior security officials for questioning regarding the blasts, a parliamentary official told AFP. Those set to be called in for questioning include Iraqi Army leaders responsible for guarding Sadr City. Parliament has not yet set a date for the questioning. Security has improved dramatically since US and Iraqi forces began allying with local tribes and former insurgents in late 2006 to combat Al-Qaeda and other militias, but attacks are still common. April has been the bloodiest month since the start of the year, with over 300 people killed and over 700 wounded, according to an AFP tally based on reports from security officials. |
| Posted by:Fred |