This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21973817
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Iraq: Car bombs hit worshippers in Baghdad and Kirkuk | Iraq: Car bombs hit worshippers in Baghdad and Kirkuk |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Shia worshippers in the Iraqi capital Baghdad and the northern city of Kirkuk have been targeted in a series of car bomb attacks. | Shia worshippers in the Iraqi capital Baghdad and the northern city of Kirkuk have been targeted in a series of car bomb attacks. |
| At least 19 people have died and more than 100 have been wounded. | |
| Blasts hit mosques in the Baghdad areas of Zafaraniyah, Binook, Qahira, and Jihad during Friday Prayers. The Kirkuk attack was reported at the same time. | Blasts hit mosques in the Baghdad areas of Zafaraniyah, Binook, Qahira, and Jihad during Friday Prayers. The Kirkuk attack was reported at the same time. |
| Violence has decreased in Iraq since the peak of the insurgency in 2006 and 2007, but bombings are still common. | Violence has decreased in Iraq since the peak of the insurgency in 2006 and 2007, but bombings are still common. |
| Sunni Islamist militants linked to al-Qaeda have vowed to step up attacks on Shia and official targets this year, in an attempt to weaken the Shia-led government. | Sunni Islamist militants linked to al-Qaeda have vowed to step up attacks on Shia and official targets this year, in an attempt to weaken the Shia-led government. |
| Political crisis | |
| The blasts occurred at Shia mosques across Baghdad as worshippers were emerging from Friday prayers. | |
| At least 16 people were reported to have died and about 30 people have been wounded. | |
| An AFP reporter in the Qahira district described seeing pools of blood and massive damage to cars, houses and shops. | |
| Several residents were crying as soldiers imposed a heavy security presence in the area, AFP reports. | |
| The blast in Kirkuk, some 240km (150 miles) north of Baghdad, happened when a suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden car into a group of worshippers outside the mosque, police Col Najat Hassan said. | |
| At least three people are reported to have died, and some 70 people have been wounded. | |
| "We were listening to the cleric's speech when we heard a very strong explosion. Glass scattered everywhere and the roof partially collapsed," said Mohammed, one of the worshippers. | |
| As many as 60 people were killed in a series of car and suicide bombings in mainly Shia areas in and around Baghdad on 19 March - the 10th anniversary of the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. | As many as 60 people were killed in a series of car and suicide bombings in mainly Shia areas in and around Baghdad on 19 March - the 10th anniversary of the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. |
| The violence comes at a time of deep political crisis in Iraq, with Prime Minister Nouri Maliki sharply at odds with a range of political forces, including the Kurds, most of the Sunni groups, and many factions within his own Shia community. | The violence comes at a time of deep political crisis in Iraq, with Prime Minister Nouri Maliki sharply at odds with a range of political forces, including the Kurds, most of the Sunni groups, and many factions within his own Shia community. |
| With its massive oil reserves, Kirkuk - home to a mixture of Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen - is one of the most bitterly contested of Iraq's disputed territories. | With its massive oil reserves, Kirkuk - home to a mixture of Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen - is one of the most bitterly contested of Iraq's disputed territories. |
| The Kurds want to incorporate it into their largely autonomous region, while Arabs and Turkmen oppose any change to its current status, ruled directly from Baghdad. | The Kurds want to incorporate it into their largely autonomous region, while Arabs and Turkmen oppose any change to its current status, ruled directly from Baghdad. |
| Militants often exploit tensions between the Iraqi and Kurdish security forces by launching deadly attacks in the city, correspondents say. | Militants often exploit tensions between the Iraqi and Kurdish security forces by launching deadly attacks in the city, correspondents say. |