BBCA wave of car bombs and mortar blasts in the Shia Sadr City district of the Iraqi capital has left more than 150 people dead and more than 200 injured. It was the most devastating series of attacks in Baghdad in a single day since the US-led invasion in 2003. At least three bombs exploded in crowded areas of Sadr City, the frequent target of Sunni insurgents. Mortar attacks were later reported on a Sunni neighbourhood, as the authorities put Baghdad under an indefinite curfew. Baghdad airport has also been closed to commercial flights until further notice. Panic The blasts brought panic to the streets of Sadr City, a densely populated, largely Shia neighbourhood, as distraught residents searched for family and friends. The bombs exploded 15 minutes apart in a busy square, a food market and a street where people catch buses, timed to cause maximum damage, says the BBC's Andy Gallacher in Baghdad. At about 1500 local time , a car exploded in the Jamila food market, where eyewitnesses told reporters that burned bodies and human flesh littered the ground. The vegetable market had been packed with shoppers buying provisions ahead of the Friday holiday. The first blast was followed by at least two others, also believed to be suicide car bomb attacks, at 15-minute intervals. Several mortar rounds also hit Sadr City, police said. "I was out shopping. As the bombs went off, everyone started running and shouting," news photographer Kareem al-Rubaie told Reuters new agency. "I saw a car from a wedding party, covered in ribbons and flowers. It was burning. There were pools of blood on the street and children dead on the ground." Curses The number of casualties put major pressure on transport and hospitals. The injured filled Sadr City's hospitals, with dozens lying bleeding in the corridors. Angry residents and armed Shia militiamen came out onto the streets, hurling curses at Sunni Muslims, the Associated Press news agency reports. The Iraqi health minister, Ali al-Shammari, accused Sunnis and loyalists of the former ruling Baath party of being behind the attacks. "They were killed in cold blood by Sunni extremists and Baathist criminal remnants," he told the BBC Arabic Service. Shortly after the blasts, a dozen mortars hit the Adhamiya district, a predominantly Sunni area, injuring 10 people, the interior ministry said. In another part of Baghdad, five people were reported injured at the health ministry when about 30 gunmen opened fire on the compound. The Iraqi authorities put Baghdad's seven million residents under curfew on Thursday evening, saying all people and vehicles must stay off the streets until further notice. The daily attacks in Baghdad are now more brazen and more sectarian, says BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy. On Wednesday, the United Nations said violent deaths among civilians hit a record high in October, with more than 3,700 people losing their lives - the majority in sectarian attacks.
It seems the Iraqi's situation has worsened even more, rather than improved since the invasion. Not much to say really. This must be frighteningly common for most Iraqis.
Iraq has quickly gone to hell in a handbasket. I don't know what to think anymore. Bush, you tool.
It is time for the US to leave, but in reality we're just as bad off as we were when we were in Vietnam. Hard to have an exit strategy for this sort of thing.
I could just see Bush out there wiring all those car bombs. Yup that's one evil bastard......
If the US leaves, cival war will erupt and Iraq will fall into worse shit then it's in now. Bush got himself into a 20 year conflict with no exit strategy.
We weren't in Vietnam for 20 years and that was far worse. What will probably happen is the staggered withdraw. They will tell the iraq government that they're going to remove x number of troops and when they do the Iraq gov will slowly begin to pick up the slack.
Kind of like getting taken off a drug habit. It's far easier to do it slowly then all at once.
Too many servicemen are losing their lives for oil Uk and USA and to the families my Condolensces! It should be left to sort out its own country and our service personnel should come home as they are never going to win while mercenaries come in from over the border! I was sad to hear this news! Pyr8:(
cc.;3381127If the US leaves, cival war will erupt and Iraq will fall into worse shit then it's in now. Bush got himself into a 20 year conflict with no exit strategy.
Exactly. Thanks Bush..you're the man. :uhoh:
Our next president better kick ass
nah dont think this war was for oil it was probably just bush getting back at saddam for trying to kill his daddy in the early 90's anyway they sure cant leave until the iraqis get there sht under control. or else all those who died, died for no reason, no mission
D.Sporky!;3382769 Our next president better kick ass
Well that's what Bush did and look what happened.
This is all sad but not suprising. Wewalked into this one and now we are stuck with what we got into.