This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6327057.stm

The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Baghdad market bomb 'kills 102' Baghdad market bomb 'kills 102'
(20 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.
Police say the truck blew up in the al-Sadriya district as people bought food ahead of a night-time curfew.Police say the truck blew up in the al-Sadriya district as people bought food ahead of a night-time curfew.
It shattered stalls and left a huge crater in the street, in the heavily populated, predominantly Shia area.It shattered stalls and left a huge crater in the street, in the heavily populated, predominantly Shia area.
Only the Sadr City bombings in November, which killed more than 200 people, have claimed more lives.Only the Sadr City bombings in November, which killed more than 200 people, have claimed more lives.
Markets have become a regular target for bombers over recent months.Markets have become a regular target for bombers over recent months.
An attack on the Haraj market in Baghdad on 22 January killed 88 people.An attack on the Haraj market in Baghdad on 22 January killed 88 people.
Kirkuk attacks Everybody knows the necessity for us to stand together and reject the sectarian tension Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6327959.stm">In pictures: Iraq violence
Many of the victims in the al-Sadriya blast were ferried to hospital in pick-up trucks. Rescuers pulled the dead and injured from the rubble of the al-Sadriya blast and loaded them on to pick-up trucks to be ferried to hospital.
Wards and corridors overflowed at the nearby Ibn al-Nafis hospital, with relatives screaming for help for their loved ones.
One injured man at Ibn al-Nafis told Reuters news agency: "I was in my shop and there was a great explosion and the roof fell in on me. I woke up here in hospital."
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.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.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 Kirkuk attacks
On Saturday, Iraq's most prominent Shia cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, made a new appeal to all Iraqis.
"Everybody knows the necessity for us to stand together and reject the sectarian tension to avoid stirring sectarian differences," he said.
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. Earlier, seven car bombs in the ethnically mixed 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.
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.