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Bombers rock Baghdad university Bombers rock Baghdad university
(about 6 hours later)
At least 70 people have been killed and scores injured in a double bombing at a university in Baghdad, sources say. At least 70 people have been killed and scores more injured in a double bombing at a university in Baghdad.
A car bomb blew up outside Mustansiriyah University, and a suicide bomber targeted students as they fled. A car bomb blew up outside Mustansiriyah University and a suicide bomber targeted students as they fled.
Elsewhere in the Iraqi capital, at least 25 people died in car bombings and shootings. The attack came as US President George W Bush defended his decision to send thousands more troops to Iraq.
The attacks came as the UN said more than 34,400 Iraqis had died in 2006 in violence across the country. In a TV interview, he expressed frustration at the ongoing violence, but said the bloodshed would get "a lot worse" if the US did not step in.
It also said more than 36,000 civilians were hurt during the year. Last week Mr Bush ordered 21,500 additional US troops to Iraq, mainly to Baghdad, for a new security drive to rid the city of daily sectarian attacks.
The UN's figures were almost three times the Iraqi government's estimate. "If we don't crack this now, the violence will spiral out of control," he said in an interview on the PBS programme NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.
The latest attacks come less than a week after US President George W Bush ordered more than 20,000 additional US troops to Iraq. He blamed al-Qaeda for triggering the sectarian violence, saying it was "important for the American people to understand it is al-Qaeda that is doing a lot of these spectacular bombings".
Most of them are heading for Baghdad in what is expected to be a new security drive by US and Iraqi forces to rid the city of daily sectarian attacks. His comments came as the UN said more than 34,400 Iraqis had died in 2006 in violence across the country, more than three times the Iraqi government's estimate.
In other violence:In other violence:
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  • Twenty-five unidentified bodies are found in Baghdad
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    • At least 25 people died in car bombings and shootings in Baghdad
  • Twenty-five unidentified bodies were found in Baghdad
  • Four US soldiers died in a blast in Nineveh province on Monday, the US military said
  • Four US soldiers died in a blast in Nineveh province on Monday, the US military said
    • Students killedStudents killed
    The BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Baghdad says the bombers apparently attacked at the front and rear entrances of the university building, catching many of the students as they emerged.The BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Baghdad says the bombers apparently attacked at the front and rear entrances of the university building, catching many of the students as they emerged.
    The majority of those killed are female students who were on their way home University official In pictures: Baghdad bloodiedThe majority of those killed are female students who were on their way home University official In pictures: Baghdad bloodied
    A car bomb exploded followed by a suicide bomber who blew himself up among people fleeing the first blast in the predominantly Shia area, police said.A car bomb exploded followed by a suicide bomber who blew himself up among people fleeing the first blast in the predominantly Shia area, police said.
    Pictures from the campus showed a scene of devastation, with wrecked and blackened vehicles scattered across a wide area.Pictures from the campus showed a scene of devastation, with wrecked and blackened vehicles scattered across a wide area.
    "The majority of those killed are female students who were on their way home," Reuters news agency quoted a university official as saying."The majority of those killed are female students who were on their way home," Reuters news agency quoted a university official as saying.
    "There's glass everywhere and the doors were blown out," the official said."There's glass everywhere and the doors were blown out," the official said.
    Police said 170 people were wounded in the blasts, the worst single attacks in the capital this year.Police said 170 people were wounded in the blasts, the worst single attacks in the capital this year.
    The Ministry of Higher Education has issued a plea for blood donors.The Ministry of Higher Education has issued a plea for blood donors.
    Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki blamed the attack on "a hopeless group of Saddamists and extremists".Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki blamed the attack on "a hopeless group of Saddamists and extremists".
    Market bombedMarket bombed
    Hours earlier, another twin bombing tore through a used motorcycle market in Baghdad's mainly Shia Bab al-Sheik neighbourhood.Hours earlier, another twin bombing tore through a used motorcycle market in Baghdad's mainly Shia Bab al-Sheik neighbourhood.
    An initial blast drew in onlookers, who were hit by a second explosion moments later.An initial blast drew in onlookers, who were hit by a second explosion moments later.
    "The first explosion - many people died and the people who came to rescue them were killed in the second explosion," an unnamed witness told the Associated Press news agency."The first explosion - many people died and the people who came to rescue them were killed in the second explosion," an unnamed witness told the Associated Press news agency.
    "There was a motorcycle that exploded in the second blast," he said."There was a motorcycle that exploded in the second blast," he said.
    Raad Abbas, 26, described a scene of carnage.Raad Abbas, 26, described a scene of carnage.
    "Shortly after midday, I heard an explosion. Motorcycles were flying in the air, people were falling dead and wounded," he told AP."Shortly after midday, I heard an explosion. Motorcycles were flying in the air, people were falling dead and wounded," he told AP.
    Meanwhile in the north of the capital, gunmen opened fire on shoppers in the mixed al-Bounuk area, killing 10 and wounding seven others, before reportedly fleeing in vehicles.Meanwhile in the north of the capital, gunmen opened fire on shoppers in the mixed al-Bounuk area, killing 10 and wounding seven others, before reportedly fleeing in vehicles.
    Are you in Baghdad? Have you been affected by the violence?
    Name
    Are you in Baghdad? Have you been affected by the violence? Name