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| Baghdad car bombings 'kill 160' | Baghdad car bombings 'kill 160' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A wave of car bombs and mortars in Baghdad's Sadr City district has left about 160 people dead and more than 200 injured, Iraq police have said. | A wave of car bombs and mortars in Baghdad's Sadr City district has left about 160 people dead and more than 200 injured, Iraq police have said. |
| It was the most devastating series of attacks in Iraq's capital in a single day since the US-led invasion in 2003. | It was the most devastating series of attacks in Iraq's capital in a single day since the US-led invasion in 2003. |
| The bombings in Sadr City were followed by mortar attacks on Sunni areas. | The bombings in Sadr City were followed by mortar attacks on Sunni areas. |
| The Iraqi authorities have put Baghdad under curfew and closed the airport, and Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki went on TV to appeal for restraint amid the violence. | The Iraqi authorities have put Baghdad under curfew and closed the airport, and Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki went on TV to appeal for restraint amid the violence. |
| "We denounce sectarian practices that aim to destroy the unity of the nation," Mr Maliki said. | "We denounce sectarian practices that aim to destroy the unity of the nation," Mr Maliki said. |
| Panic | Panic |
| Leaders of Iraq's Shia, Sunni and Kurdish communities also appealed for calm, while Iraq's most prominent Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, "urged people not to react illegally and maintain self-restraint and calm," one of his officials said. | Leaders of Iraq's Shia, Sunni and Kurdish communities also appealed for calm, while Iraq's most prominent Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, "urged people not to react illegally and maintain self-restraint and calm," one of his officials said. |
| There were pools of blood on the street and children dead on the ground Kareem al-Rubaie News photographer Death toll hits record high Who are the armed groups? | There were pools of blood on the street and children dead on the ground Kareem al-Rubaie News photographer Death toll hits record high Who are the armed groups? |
| In Washington, a White House spokeswoman said they condemned "such acts of senseless violence that are clearly aimed at undermining the Iraqi people's hopes for a peaceful and stable Iraq." | In Washington, a White House spokeswoman said they condemned "such acts of senseless violence that are clearly aimed at undermining the Iraqi people's hopes for a peaceful and stable Iraq." |
| 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 blasts brought panic to the streets of Sadr City, a densely populated, largely Shia neighbourhood, as distraught residents searched for family and friends. |
| Several car bombs, at least three of them believed to be suicide attacks, exploded minutes apart. | Several car bombs, at least three of them believed to be suicide attacks, exploded minutes apart. |
| Among the targets were a busy square, a food market and a street where people catch buses. | Among the targets were a busy square, a food market and a street where people catch buses. |
| href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6177540.stm" class="">Blasts in pictures | |
| "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." | "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." |
| People tried to pull bodies out of the mangled wreckage of cars and minibuses and put out fires. | People tried to pull bodies out of the mangled wreckage of cars and minibuses and put out fires. |
| Several mortar rounds were also fired into hit Sadr City, police said. | Several mortar rounds were also fired into hit Sadr City, police said. |
| Curses | Curses |
| The number of casualties put major pressure on transport and hospitals. | The number of casualties put major pressure on transport and hospitals. |
| BLOODIEST DAYS OF VIOLENCE 23 Nov 2006 - 138 deadWave of car bomb and mortar blasts strike Sadr City in Baghdad7 April 2006 - 85 deadTriple suicide bombing at Shia Buratha mosque in Baghdad5 Jan 2006 - 110 deadSuicide bombers hit Karbala shrine and police recruiting station in Ramadi14 Sept 2005 - 182 deadSuicide car bomber targets Baghdad labourers in worst of a series of bombs28 Feb 2005 - 114 deadSuicide car bomb hits government jobseekers in Hilla2 March 2004 - 140 deadSuicide bombers attack Shia festival-goers in Karbala and Baghdad1 Feb 2004 - 105 deadTwin attacks on Kurdish parties' offices in Irbil | BLOODIEST DAYS OF VIOLENCE 23 Nov 2006 - 138 deadWave of car bomb and mortar blasts strike Sadr City in Baghdad7 April 2006 - 85 deadTriple suicide bombing at Shia Buratha mosque in Baghdad5 Jan 2006 - 110 deadSuicide bombers hit Karbala shrine and police recruiting station in Ramadi14 Sept 2005 - 182 deadSuicide car bomber targets Baghdad labourers in worst of a series of bombs28 Feb 2005 - 114 deadSuicide car bomb hits government jobseekers in Hilla2 March 2004 - 140 deadSuicide bombers attack Shia festival-goers in Karbala and Baghdad1 Feb 2004 - 105 deadTwin attacks on Kurdish parties' offices in Irbil |
| The injured filled Sadr City's hospitals, with dozens lying bleeding in the corridors. | 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, shouting curses at Sunni Muslims, the Associated Press news agency reports. | Angry residents and armed Shia militiamen came out onto the streets, shouting 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. | 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. | "They were killed in cold blood by Sunni extremists and Baathist criminal remnants," he told the BBC Arabic Service. |
| The bombs exploded shortly after dozens of gunmen had attacked the health ministry in Baghdad, clashing with Iraqi guards and soldiers before they were beaten off. | The bombs exploded shortly after dozens of gunmen had attacked the health ministry in Baghdad, clashing with Iraqi guards and soldiers before they were beaten off. |
| Brazen attacks | Brazen attacks |
| Sadr City is largely controlled by the Mehdi Army, the best-known of the Shia Iraqi militias, which has been accused of carrying out many sectarian attacks. | Sadr City is largely controlled by the Mehdi Army, the best-known of the Shia Iraqi militias, which has been accused of carrying out many sectarian attacks. |
| Living with violence Sadr City: Shia stronghold | Living with violence Sadr City: Shia stronghold |
| Shortly after the blasts, a dozen mortars hit the Adhamiya district, a predominantly Sunni area, injuring 10 people, the interior ministry said. | Shortly after the blasts, a dozen mortars hit the Adhamiya district, a predominantly Sunni area, injuring 10 people, the interior ministry said. |
| 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 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 Iraqi authorities have also closed Basra's air and sea ports in the south, as well as the international airport in Baghdad. | The Iraqi authorities have also closed Basra's air and sea ports in the south, as well as the international airport in Baghdad. |
| The daily attacks in Baghdad are now more brazen and more sectarian, says BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy. | 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. | 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. |
| Are you there? Did you see what happened? You can contact us by using the form below. | Are you there? Did you see what happened? You can contact us by using the form below. |
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