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Iraq police chief's children held Iraq police chief's children held
(about 3 hours later)
Gunmen in Iraq have attacked the house of a senior police officer, killing his wife and 13 other people and taking away three of his children.Gunmen in Iraq have attacked the house of a senior police officer, killing his wife and 13 other people and taking away three of his children.
The attack took place late on Thursday on the house of Col Ali al-Jurani, the head of emergency police in the town of Kanaan, in Diyala province.The attack took place late on Thursday on the house of Col Ali al-Jurani, the head of emergency police in the town of Kanaan, in Diyala province.
Diyala has been the scene of some of the worst violence in Iraq.Diyala has been the scene of some of the worst violence in Iraq.
In southern Iraq, at least 15 people, including women and children, died in two car bomb blasts on Friday. In southern Iraq, at least 16 people, including women and children, died in two car bomb blasts on Friday.
At least another 30 were injured in the attacks, which targeted a busy market and a bus station in the town of Qurna, 60km (35 miles) north of Basra. At least another 32 were injured in the attacks, which targeted a busy market and a bus station in the town of Qurna, 60km (35 miles) north of Basra.
Things have not moved as quickly as we would like to see them happen on the political track. And militarily also there are challenges that continue Zalmay KhalilzadUS ambassador at the UN
Hundreds of people die every month in attacks which have brought Iraq to the brink of civil war.Hundreds of people die every month in attacks which have brought Iraq to the brink of civil war.
Millions of people have also been displaced by the spiralling sectarian strife.Millions of people have also been displaced by the spiralling sectarian strife.
"Several armed men attacked my house at 2200 (1800 GMT) and killed 14 people, including my wife, brother and my 12 bodyguards," Col Jurani told AFP news agency."Several armed men attacked my house at 2200 (1800 GMT) and killed 14 people, including my wife, brother and my 12 bodyguards," Col Jurani told AFP news agency.
"The attackers also kidnapped my three children - two boys and a girl," he said."The attackers also kidnapped my three children - two boys and a girl," he said.
It was not clear if he was at home at the time. He was not believed to have been at home at the time.
Stoking tensions No target
The Qurna bombs, hidden in two parked cars, went off in swift succession just as people were starting to crowd into the street market area in the centre of town to sell or buy fresh produce.The Qurna bombs, hidden in two parked cars, went off in swift succession just as people were starting to crowd into the street market area in the centre of town to sell or buy fresh produce.
There was no apparent target, apart from the people themselves.
Car bomb attacks like the ones in Qurna occur daily in Baghdad and other parts of troubled central Iraq, but there have been very few as far south, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad.Car bomb attacks like the ones in Qurna occur daily in Baghdad and other parts of troubled central Iraq, but there have been very few as far south, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad.
There was no apparent target, apart from the people themselves, says our correspondent. The market was crowded when the insurgents hit
The population in the south is mainly Shia.The population in the south is mainly Shia.
There are local power struggles, but indiscriminate car bombs like this in busy areas are not part of that, our correspondent says.There are local power struggles, but indiscriminate car bombs like this in busy areas are not part of that, our correspondent says.
Most of the violence in Iraq is between Sunnis and Shias.Most of the violence in Iraq is between Sunnis and Shias.
The Sunnis accuse Shia militias and their allies in the security forces of operating squads that kidnap, torture and kill Sunni civilians.
Similar explosions elsewhere have been widely blamed on Sunni insurgents.Similar explosions elsewhere have been widely blamed on Sunni insurgents.
This attack is likely to be seen as yet another attempt to stir up sectarian trouble between Shias and Sunnis, says our correspondent. Our correspondent says a US-led troops "surge" for the Baghdad area may have helped push more insurgents away from the capital.
Friday's attack in Qurna came just a day after another British soldier was killed in a clash with Shia militia fighters further south at Basra itself, bringing the total of British who have died in Iraq in the past four years to 150. US Ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad, who previously served in Iraq, told the BBC " the surge was intended to provide space for the government of Iraq to make the compromises among the various communities, to reduce the sources of violence".
American forces have now lost more than 3,500 troops. "Things have not moved as quickly as we would like to see them happen on the political track. And militarily also there are challenges that continue, and not only in Baghdad, but also outside Baghdad," Mr Khalilzad told the Newshour programme.