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Dozens die in attacks across Iraq | Dozens die in attacks across Iraq |
(40 minutes later) | |
A string of suicide attacks, shootings and rocket strikes have claimed dozens of lives on a day of violence in Iraq. | A string of suicide attacks, shootings and rocket strikes have claimed dozens of lives on a day of violence in Iraq. |
In the bloodiest single incident, 13 Iraqi soldiers died when a suicide attacker drove a fuel tanker into an army base in Mosul in northern Iraq. | In the bloodiest single incident, 13 Iraqi soldiers died when a suicide attacker drove a fuel tanker into an army base in Mosul in northern Iraq. |
The US military said it killed 12 militants preparing suicide attacks in a house east of Baquba. | |
At least 15 people died in rocket and mortar fire apparently aimed at Baghdad's Green Zone. | |
Eight were civilians who were killed when rockets landed short of their targets on Sunday morning. | |
The bloodshed comes despite an overall reduction in violence since last June. | The bloodshed comes despite an overall reduction in violence since last June. |
That was when the US deployed an extra 30,000 troops in violence-hit areas - the so-called "troop surge". | That was when the US deployed an extra 30,000 troops in violence-hit areas - the so-called "troop surge". |
But Sunday's violence underlines the fragile, reversible nature of the apparent improvements in security, say correspondents. | But Sunday's violence underlines the fragile, reversible nature of the apparent improvements in security, say correspondents. |
Huge blast | Huge blast |
At least 40 people were injured in Sunday's early-morning suicide strike in Mosul. | At least 40 people were injured in Sunday's early-morning suicide strike in Mosul. |
Sunday also saw a barrage of fire hit Baghdad's Green Zone | Sunday also saw a barrage of fire hit Baghdad's Green Zone |
The suicide attacker ploughed an explosives-laden tanker into the army base, causing a massive blast. | The suicide attacker ploughed an explosives-laden tanker into the army base, causing a massive blast. |
Iraqi and US soldiers have been engaged in a major offensive in Mosul, which US commanders say is al-Qaeda's last urban stronghold in Iraq. | Iraqi and US soldiers have been engaged in a major offensive in Mosul, which US commanders say is al-Qaeda's last urban stronghold in Iraq. |
In another deadly attack, at least seven shoppers in a Baghdad market were killed when gunmen travelling in three cars opened fire. | In another deadly attack, at least seven shoppers in a Baghdad market were killed when gunmen travelling in three cars opened fire. |
At least 16 people were wounded when the drive-by shooting happened in the southern Zaafariniya area of the city, police said. The gunmen fled the scene. | At least 16 people were wounded when the drive-by shooting happened in the southern Zaafariniya area of the city, police said. The gunmen fled the scene. |
| In other violence:
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Bodies 'shaved' | Bodies 'shaved' |
The attacks on the Green Zone - which began at about 0600 (0300 GMT) - set the warlike tone of the day. | The attacks on the Green Zone - which began at about 0600 (0300 GMT) - set the warlike tone of the day. |
The first rocket barrage sounded like successive peals of thunder. It left a shroud of stinking black smoke over the city, reports the BBC's Adam Brookes. | The first rocket barrage sounded like successive peals of thunder. It left a shroud of stinking black smoke over the city, reports the BBC's Adam Brookes. |
Some relatives were mourning those struck by a stray rocket | Some relatives were mourning those struck by a stray rocket |
A second barrage followed about four hours later, leaving four wounded. A third attack followed four hours after that. Iraqi police told the BBC that seven people died in the latest attack. | |
Our correspondent says previous rocket attacks on the Green Zone have been blamed on rogue elements of Moqtada Sadr's Mehdi Army militia, which is supposed to be observing a ceasefire. | Our correspondent says previous rocket attacks on the Green Zone have been blamed on rogue elements of Moqtada Sadr's Mehdi Army militia, which is supposed to be observing a ceasefire. |
Also on Sunday, the US military said it had killed 12 men in a raid east of Baquba city, in Diyala province. | Also on Sunday, the US military said it had killed 12 men in a raid east of Baquba city, in Diyala province. |
Spokesman Major Winfield Danielson claimed six of the men killed were found to have shaved their bodies, which he said was "consistent with final preparation for suicide operations". | Spokesman Major Winfield Danielson claimed six of the men killed were found to have shaved their bodies, which he said was "consistent with final preparation for suicide operations". |
He added that a cache of weapons and ammunition had also been found in the raid and destroyed. | He added that a cache of weapons and ammunition had also been found in the raid and destroyed. |