Bloody Sunday in Baghdad
In the bloodiest attack in the country in over two years, two suicide car bombers targeted government buildings killing nearly 150 people and wounding 600 in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Sunday.
The attacks are a grim reminder of the fragile security situation and the prowess of the insurgents to strike at the heart of the country.
The Sunday bombings targeting the Justice Ministry and the Baghdad provincial administration come amid preparations for historic elections the country is scheduled to hold this January.
25 staff members of the Baghdad Provincial Council, which runs the city, were killed in the bombing, said Associated Press citing council member Mohammed al-Rubaiey.
The area occurred not far from the high security Green Zone that houses the US Embassy and the prime minister’s offices. The area was recently opened to vehicle traffic.
The attacks were triggered hours before the Iraqi top leadership was scheduled to meet with heads of political parties to reach at a consensus on a contentious election law ahead of the parliamentary polls.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki visited the blast site later in the day, he blamed the attacks on the al-Qaeda and the Baathist supporters of former president Saddam Hussein.
The Iraqi government later declared three day national mourning in the country.
The wounded included three American security contractors, working for the US embassy in Baghdad.
Leading the condemnation against the ghastly attacks, US President Barack Obama sent “deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones.”
“The United States will stand with Iraq’s people and government as a close friend and partner as Iraqis prepare for elections early next year, continue to take responsibility for their future, and build greater peace and opportunity,” said Obama in a statement.
In a joint statement issued by US Ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill and Top Commander of US troops in Iraq General Ray Odierno said the US embassy in Baghdad and multinational forces-Iraq “strongly condemn the bombings that took place this morning in Baghdad resulting in the deaths of scores of people and the wounding of hundreds of others.”
Condemning the bombings, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a statement said: “He strongly condemns these senseless and indiscriminate acts of violence that repeatedly target the innocent and aim to disrupt Iraq’s recovery.”
“The secretary-general extends his deep condolences to the bereaved families and his wishes for the speedy recovery of the wounded,” said Ban in the statement issued by his spokesperson at the United Nations.
Reacting to the attack and the senseless killings, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said: “Today’s indiscriminate bomb attacks on government buildings in Baghdad are a terrible reminder of the threat from violent extremism.”
“Such acts of terrorism can have no justification, and must be condemned without reservation. My condolences and sympathies go out to all those who have suffered as a result of these atrocities,” said Miliband in a statement.
