| At least 175 people have been killed in a series of suicide bomb attacks in northern Iraq, Iraq's military says. | At least 175 people have been killed in a series of suicide bomb attacks in northern Iraq, Iraq's military says. |
| The blasts apparently targeted a Kurdish religious minority, the Yazidi sect, near Mosul. At least four blasts hit areas which house the community. | The blasts apparently targeted a Kurdish religious minority, the Yazidi sect, near Mosul. At least four blasts hit areas which house the community. |
| A Mosul police source told the BBC that there had been "large loss of life". | A Mosul police source told the BBC that there had been "large loss of life". |
| Tensions between the sect and local Muslims have grown since a Yazidi girl was reportedly stoned by her community in April for converting to Islam. | Tensions between the sect and local Muslims have grown since a Yazidi girl was reportedly stoned by her community in April for converting to Islam. |
| Officials said at least one of the attacks near Mosul involved a fuel tanker. | Officials said at least one of the attacks near Mosul involved a fuel tanker. |
| MAJOR ATTACKS IN 2007 14 August: At least 175 reported dead in attacks on Yazidi sect near Mosul16 July: At least 85 die in twin bombings in Kirkuk7 July: 130 killed in Amirli market bombing19 June: At least 78 die in Baghdad mosque blast18 April: Up to 200 killed in car bombings in Baghdad6 March: At least 90 killed in double suicide bombing in Hilla3 Feb: At least 130 die in suicide lorry blast in Baghdad22 Jan: 88 killed by Baghdad car bombs | MAJOR ATTACKS IN 2007 14 August: At least 175 reported dead in attacks on Yazidi sect near Mosul16 July: At least 85 die in twin bombings in Kirkuk7 July: 130 killed in Amirli market bombing19 June: At least 78 die in Baghdad mosque blast18 April: Up to 200 killed in car bombings in Baghdad6 March: At least 90 killed in double suicide bombing in Hilla3 Feb: At least 130 die in suicide lorry blast in Baghdad22 Jan: 88 killed by Baghdad car bombs |
| Up to 200 other people were hurt in the blasts, which destroyed or set fire to a number of buildings. | Up to 200 other people were hurt in the blasts, which destroyed or set fire to a number of buildings. |
| The attacks are among the worst carried out in Iraq during the insurgency. | The attacks are among the worst carried out in Iraq during the insurgency. |
| Members of the Yazidi community worship an archangel, sometimes represented by a peacock figure. Some Christians and Muslims believe the angel they revere to be the devil. | Members of the Yazidi community worship an archangel, sometimes represented by a peacock figure. Some Christians and Muslims believe the angel they revere to be the devil. |
| Helicopter crash | Helicopter crash |
| Elsewhere, five US service personnel were killed when their helicopter came down near Falluja, west of Baghdad. | Elsewhere, five US service personnel were killed when their helicopter came down near Falluja, west of Baghdad. |
| The US said it was still investigating the cause of the crash, but the CH-47 Chinook had been on a test flight after routine maintenance. | The US said it was still investigating the cause of the crash, but the CH-47 Chinook had been on a test flight after routine maintenance. |
| The US had already announced the deaths of four other soldiers in two separate incidents in Nineveh province and Baghdad. | The US had already announced the deaths of four other soldiers in two separate incidents in Nineveh province and Baghdad. |
| A separate suicide bomb attack on a Baghdad bridge, meanwhile, sent cars plunging into the water and killed at least 10 people, Iraqi police said. | A separate suicide bomb attack on a Baghdad bridge, meanwhile, sent cars plunging into the water and killed at least 10 people, Iraqi police said. |
| The Thiraa Dijla bridge in Taji lies on the main road from Baghdad to Mosul. | The Thiraa Dijla bridge in Taji lies on the main road from Baghdad to Mosul. |
| Fresh attacks | Fresh attacks |
| In another insurgent attack in the capital, some 50 gunmen in uniform were reported to have kidnapped a deputy oil minister and several other officials. | In another insurgent attack in the capital, some 50 gunmen in uniform were reported to have kidnapped a deputy oil minister and several other officials. |
| Reports said the men stormed an oil ministry compound in the capital in 17 official vehicles. | Reports said the men stormed an oil ministry compound in the capital in 17 official vehicles. |
| The US military also said on Tuesday that its troops had killed four gunmen in Baghdad's Sadr City. But local officials said three civilians died in the raid. | The US military also said on Tuesday that its troops had killed four gunmen in Baghdad's Sadr City. But local officials said three civilians died in the raid. |
| They said one of the victims was a young girl sleeping with her family on the roof. | They said one of the victims was a young girl sleeping with her family on the roof. |
| The US military denied killing any civilians in the raid. | The US military denied killing any civilians in the raid. |
| Political move | Political move |
| Separately, three Iraqi ministers from the mixed Sunni-Shia Iraqi National List of former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi unexpectedly attended a government session. | Separately, three Iraqi ministers from the mixed Sunni-Shia Iraqi National List of former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi unexpectedly attended a government session. |
| They were among five ministers who last week began the boycott of Nouri Maliki's government over what they said was its failure to end sectarian violence. | They were among five ministers who last week began the boycott of Nouri Maliki's government over what they said was its failure to end sectarian violence. |
| The move comes as politicians from some of Iraq's main political parties are holding informal talks ahead of a summit called this week by Mr Maliki to try to resolve their differences. | The move comes as politicians from some of Iraq's main political parties are holding informal talks ahead of a summit called this week by Mr Maliki to try to resolve their differences. |
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