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Iraq's leader postpones Iran trip | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has postponed a trip to Iran because of a curfew imposed on the capital in response to recent violence. | |
On Saturday, US forces say they killed 10 insurgents in a raid on a bomb-making facility north of Baghdad. | |
Mr Talabani had been due to meet Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for talks on Iraq's security situation. | |
Earlier, Mr Talabani said an all-party conference convened after Thursday's wave of bombings had been a success. | |
He said he might go to Tehran on Sunday if Baghdad's airport were reopened. | |
US forces said a teenage boy was also killed and a pregnant woman wounded during the exchange of fire in the town of Taji. | |
The military said it discovered caches of rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns, pipe bombs and anti-aircraft weapons. | |
They said the weapons were later destroyed in an air strike. | |
'Outrage' | |
Mr Talabani said delegates at the security conference had agreed to increase co-operation and to "really" participate in the government of national unity. | |
"For the first time we exchanged frank opinions," he said. | |
"All parties agreed on the importance of working together and really participating in [Prime Minister] Nouri Maliki's government of national unity." | "All parties agreed on the importance of working together and really participating in [Prime Minister] Nouri Maliki's government of national unity." |
At least 230 people were killed in two days of violence in Baghdad. | |
The White House condemned Thursday's bombings and the subsequent retaliatory attacks. | The White House condemned Thursday's bombings and the subsequent retaliatory attacks. |
President Talabani said delegates agreed to support the government | |
"It is an outrage that these terrorists are targeting innocents in a brazen effort to topple a democratically elected government. These killers will not succeed," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said. | |
Gunmen attacked Hurriyah, a Sunni Arab area of Baghdad, burning mosques and homes, with at least 30 people reported killed, according to police officials. | Gunmen attacked Hurriyah, a Sunni Arab area of Baghdad, burning mosques and homes, with at least 30 people reported killed, according to police officials. |
The attacks were in apparent revenge for Thursday's bombings that killed more than 200 people in the Shia Sadr City district of the Iraqi capital. | The attacks were in apparent revenge for Thursday's bombings that killed more than 200 people in the Shia Sadr City district of the Iraqi capital. |
Clashes also erupted in Sadr City on Friday, where residents said a US helicopter fired on militiamen who were launching rocket attacks. | Clashes also erupted in Sadr City on Friday, where residents said a US helicopter fired on militiamen who were launching rocket attacks. |
Violence was also reported in other parts of Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq, including in the northern town of Talafar where a suspected double suicide bombing killed at least 22 people. | Violence was also reported in other parts of Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq, including in the northern town of Talafar where a suspected double suicide bombing killed at least 22 people. |
Fatwa demanded | Fatwa demanded |
There is a real feeling that the situation is moving to the brink amid the cycle of attacks, says the BBC's David Loyn in Baghdad. | There is a real feeling that the situation is moving to the brink amid the cycle of attacks, says the BBC's David Loyn in Baghdad. |
To add to the Iraqi government's woes, a key Shia group loyal to cleric Moqtada al-Sadr threatened to quit parliament and the cabinet if the prime minister goes ahead with a planned meeting with US President George Bush next week. | |
In pictures: Iraq funerals Who are the armed groups? Send us your comments | In pictures: Iraq funerals Who are the armed groups? Send us your comments |
The withdrawal of the group headed by Mr Sadr would deal a major blow to an already unstable government. | The withdrawal of the group headed by Mr Sadr would deal a major blow to an already unstable government. |
In a sermon on Friday, the young cleric appealed for Muslim unity, but also demanded that the leading religious figure from the Sunni minority issue a fatwa against al-Qaeda members. | |
Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army militia dominates the sprawling Sadr City slum in east Baghdad. | Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army militia dominates the sprawling Sadr City slum in east Baghdad. |
The entire city is under curfew, including the airport. The only vehicles allowed out were those carrying the coffins of Thursday's bombing victims. | The entire city is under curfew, including the airport. The only vehicles allowed out were those carrying the coffins of Thursday's bombing victims. |
Thousands of mourners came out onto the streets, walking alongside a seemingly endless fleet of mini-buses, each carrying a coffin on its roof. | Thousands of mourners came out onto the streets, walking alongside a seemingly endless fleet of mini-buses, each carrying a coffin on its roof. |
The bodies were then driven to an ancient cemetery in the holy city of Najaf, the traditional burial place for Shias, 160km (100 miles) south of Baghdad. | The bodies were then driven to an ancient cemetery in the holy city of Najaf, the traditional burial place for Shias, 160km (100 miles) south of Baghdad. |
Thursday's multiple car bomb attacks in Sadr City - in which 250 people were also wounded - were the deadliest in Iraq since the US-led invasion of 2003. | Thursday's multiple car bomb attacks in Sadr City - in which 250 people were also wounded - were the deadliest in Iraq since the US-led invasion of 2003. |