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Bombers rock Baghdad university | Bombers rock Baghdad university |
(5 days later) | |
At least 70 people have been killed and scores more injured in a double bombing at a university in Baghdad. | 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. |
The attack came as US President George W Bush defended his decision to send thousands more troops to Iraq. | The attack came as US President George W Bush defended his decision to send thousands more troops to Iraq. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
"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. | "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. |
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". | 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". |
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. | 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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Students killed | Students 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 bloodied | The 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 bombed | Market 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? |