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Double suicide bombing hits Iraq Double suicide bombing hits Iraq
(40 minutes later)
Two female suicide bombers have attacked Baghdad's main Shia shrine, killing at least 60 people and injuring 125 others, officials in Iraq say.Two female suicide bombers have attacked Baghdad's main Shia shrine, killing at least 60 people and injuring 125 others, officials in Iraq say.
The attack happened at the Imam Moussa al-Kadhim shrine in the Kadhimiya area as people gathered for Friday prayers.The attack happened at the Imam Moussa al-Kadhim shrine in the Kadhimiya area as people gathered for Friday prayers.
It comes a day after 84 people were killed in two separate suicide attacks in Baghdad and Baquba.It comes a day after 84 people were killed in two separate suicide attacks in Baghdad and Baquba.
Many victims in Baquba and in Baghdad on Friday were Iranian pilgrims and the violence was condemned in Tehran.Many victims in Baquba and in Baghdad on Friday were Iranian pilgrims and the violence was condemned in Tehran.
We... criticise America for not having the serious will to preserve Iraq's security Ali Akbar Rafsanjani Former Iranian president Violence fell sharply in the last year and the latest bombing does not change this trend, but it is a worrying development, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad.
Violence fell sharply in the last year and the latest bombing does not change this trend, but it is a worrying development, especially after Thursday's attacks, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad.
It was attacks like these that helped fuel the cycle of sectarian violence that took many thousands of lives in 2006 and 2007, he adds.
By carrying out the attack on a Friday when the shrine would be crowded with worshippers, the bombers aimed to maximise the number of casualties and the degree of sectarian provocation involved, he says.
Many Iraqis will be worried it could be a sign of worse to come when US troops complete their withdrawal, as they are supposed to do by 2011.
Human costHuman cost
The bombers detonated their explosives belts within minutes of each other near two gates of the revered shrine, which was crowded with worshippers.The bombers detonated their explosives belts within minutes of each other near two gates of the revered shrine, which was crowded with worshippers.
WEEK OF SUICIDE BOMBINGS Friday: Baghdad shrine attack kills 60Thursday: Baquba restaurant attack kills 56, Baghdad street bomber kills 28Wednesday: Bomber kills five in DhuluiyaMonday: Bomber kills three policemen in Baquba From Jim Muir in Baghdad
The shrine is the Shias' most revered location in the city. Carrying out the attack on a Friday, when the shrine would be crowded with worshippers, was clearly aimed at maximising both the number of casualties and the degree of sectarian provocation involved.
It was attacks like this that helped fuel the cycle of sectarian violence that took many thousands of lives in 2006 and 2007. The past year or more has seen a huge improvement in the security situation.
But deadly suicide attacks seem now to be intensifying once again, raising fears of a return to the bad old days.
Many Iraqis will however be worried that it could be a sign of worse to come when the American troops complete their withdrawal, as they're supposed to do by 2011.
Around 25 of the dead were Iranian pilgrims, Iraqi police said.Around 25 of the dead were Iranian pilgrims, Iraqi police said.
The shrine, in the predominantly Shia neighbourhood of the capital, has been a target for insurgents in the past.The shrine, in the predominantly Shia neighbourhood of the capital, has been a target for insurgents in the past.
Most of the 56 people now known to have been killed when a suicide bomber blew up a restaurant in Baquba, Diyala Province, on Thursday were also Iranian pilgrims.Most of the 56 people now known to have been killed when a suicide bomber blew up a restaurant in Baquba, Diyala Province, on Thursday were also Iranian pilgrims.
On the same day, a suicide bomber infiltrated a crowd of displaced families in Baghdad as they received supplies from police, detonating an explosives belt and killing 28 people.On the same day, a suicide bomber infiltrated a crowd of displaced families in Baghdad as they received supplies from police, detonating an explosives belt and killing 28 people.
At Friday prayers in Tehran, Ali Akbar Rafsanjani - the influential Iranian cleric and former president - condemned Thursday's attack on pilgrims.At Friday prayers in Tehran, Ali Akbar Rafsanjani - the influential Iranian cleric and former president - condemned Thursday's attack on pilgrims.
"The incident yesterday was a very, very hateful example of those who harm religion in the name of religion," he said in a sermon broadcast live by Iranian radio."The incident yesterday was a very, very hateful example of those who harm religion in the name of religion," he said in a sermon broadcast live by Iranian radio.
WEEK OF SUICIDE BOMBINGS Friday: Baghdad shrine attack kills 60Thursday: Baquba restaurant attack kills 56, Baghdad street bomber kills 28Wednesday: Bomber kills five in DhuluiyaMonday: Bomber kills three policemen in Baquba
"We feel sorry for the Iraqi people because such corrupt groups have penetrated into Iraq. We also criticise America for not having the serious will to preserve Iraq's security.""We feel sorry for the Iraqi people because such corrupt groups have penetrated into Iraq. We also criticise America for not having the serious will to preserve Iraq's security."
Meanwhile, new statistics from Iraq's health ministry say that since 2005 when violence worsened more than 87,000 Iraqis have been killed.Meanwhile, new statistics from Iraq's health ministry say that since 2005 when violence worsened more than 87,000 Iraqis have been killed.
The figures are based on hospital and mortuary records and are seen as significant given the heated and highly politicised debate over the human cost of the war in Iraq, our correspondent says.The figures are based on hospital and mortuary records and are seen as significant given the heated and highly politicised debate over the human cost of the war in Iraq, our correspondent says.