74 killed in terror attacks as Iraqis blame govt
World 14:16
Baghdad, August 12: Iraqis angrily blamed the authorities on Sunday for failing to head off attacks that killed 74 people as they marked the Eid al-Fitr holiday ending Iraq's deadliest Ramadan in years.
The international community roundly condemned the violence, which also wounded more than 320 people, but almost all senior Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, made no mention of the attacks.
It was the latest in months of bloodshed that have sparked fears of a return to the all-out sectarian war that peaked in 2006 and 2007 and left tens of thousands dead.
The attacks came just weeks after assaults on prisons near Baghdad, claimed by an al-Qaeda front group, freed hundreds of prisoners including leading militants, prompting warnings of a surge in violence.
Authorities, though, have highlighted major security operations -- among the largest since US forces departed in December 2011 -- which they say have led to the killing or capture of many militants.
But whatever gains the operations made, they did not stop yesterday's bloodshed, and six people were killed in fresh violence on Sunday.
Iraqis voiced frustration with the government and security forces for failing to prevent the 16 car bombings and other attacks which killed 74 people, 47 of them in Baghdad on Saturday.
The international community roundly condemned the violence, which also wounded more than 320 people, but almost all senior Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, made no mention of the attacks.
It was the latest in months of bloodshed that have sparked fears of a return to the all-out sectarian war that peaked in 2006 and 2007 and left tens of thousands dead.
The attacks came just weeks after assaults on prisons near Baghdad, claimed by an al-Qaeda front group, freed hundreds of prisoners including leading militants, prompting warnings of a surge in violence.
Authorities, though, have highlighted major security operations -- among the largest since US forces departed in December 2011 -- which they say have led to the killing or capture of many militants.
But whatever gains the operations made, they did not stop yesterday's bloodshed, and six people were killed in fresh violence on Sunday.
Iraqis voiced frustration with the government and security forces for failing to prevent the 16 car bombings and other attacks which killed 74 people, 47 of them in Baghdad on Saturday.
Posted by Unknown
on 14:16.
Filed under
