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Baghdad market bomb 'kills 102' Baghdad market bomb 'kills 102'
(30 minutes later)
At least 102 people have been killed and 215 injured in a lorry bombing at a market place in central Baghdad, Iraqi security officials have said.At least 102 people have been killed and 215 injured in a lorry bombing at a market place in central Baghdad, Iraqi security officials have said.
The attack in al-Sadriya district is the worst this year. Only the Sadr City bombings in November, which killed more than 200 people, claimed more lives. Police say the truck blew up in the al-Sadriya district as people bought food ahead of a night-time curfew.
Earlier, car bombs in the northern city of Kirkuk killed five and injured 40. It shattered stalls and left a huge crater in the street, in the heavily populated, predominantly Shia area.
The Iraqi violence continues despite a new US initiative that will see an extra 21,500 troops deployed. Only the Sadr City bombings in November, which killed more than 200 people, have claimed more lives.
Police said a parked truck blew up in the market in the heavily populated al-Sadriya district leaving a huge crater in the street. Many of the victims were ferried to hospital in pick-up trucks. Markets have become a regular target for bombers over recent months.
The attack, as shoppers bought food ahead of the night time curfew, is the worst this year - 88 people died in the bombing of the Haraj market on 22 January. An attack on the Haraj market in Baghdad on 22 January killed 88 people.
Markets, with their increased potential for casualties, have become a regular target for bombers over recent months. Kirkuk attacks
'Destabilising' Many of the victims in the al-Sadriya blast were ferried to hospital in pick-up trucks.
In the Kirkuk attacks, seven bombs - one said to be a suicide blast - went off in different parts of the ethnically mixed city over a two-hour period. BBC world affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge says the attacks on markets are widely seen as militant groups deliberately stepping up their activities before a new joint Iraqi-US security operation for Baghdad gets under way.
The US is to deploy an extra 21,500 troops.
On Saturday, Iraq's most prominent Shia cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, made a new appeal to all Iraqis to stand together and reject sectarian tension
Seven bombs also went off in Kirkuk in the northSeven bombs also went off in Kirkuk in the north
Earlier, a series of car bombs in the northern city of Kirkuk killed five people and injured 40.
Seven bombs - one said to be a suicide blast - went off in different parts of the ethnically mixed city over a two-hour period.
Two of the bombs targeted the headquarters of two Kurdish parties - the Kurdish Democratic Party led by of Massoud Barzani, head of the northern Kurdish region, and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, headed by Iraq's President, Jalal Talabani.Two of the bombs targeted the headquarters of two Kurdish parties - the Kurdish Democratic Party led by of Massoud Barzani, head of the northern Kurdish region, and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, headed by Iraq's President, Jalal Talabani.
Others hit a petrol station, Kirkuk's commercial district and several other locations, reports said.Others hit a petrol station, Kirkuk's commercial district and several other locations, reports said.
Razqar Ali, a Kurdish leader and head of Kirkuk provincial council, accused militants of trying to destabilise the city amid efforts by some Kurds to include it in the autonomous Kurdish region.Razqar Ali, a Kurdish leader and head of Kirkuk provincial council, accused militants of trying to destabilise the city amid efforts by some Kurds to include it in the autonomous Kurdish region.
A curfew was imposed after the blasts and would run from 1600 (1300 GMT) to 0600 on Sunday, AFP news agency said.A curfew was imposed after the blasts and would run from 1600 (1300 GMT) to 0600 on Sunday, AFP news agency said.
Earlier, police said gunmen attacked a checkpoint near Samarra, killing six police and injuring another six.Earlier, police said gunmen attacked a checkpoint near Samarra, killing six police and injuring another six.
Samarra is a mainly Sunni town 125km (80 miles) north of Baghdad where an attack on an important Shia shrine last February sparked Iraq's current sectarian violence.Samarra is a mainly Sunni town 125km (80 miles) north of Baghdad where an attack on an important Shia shrine last February sparked Iraq's current sectarian violence.