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| New surge of violence hits Iraq | New surge of violence hits Iraq |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A series of car bomb attacks in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk has killed at least 10 people and injured dozens of others, police say. | |
| Earlier in Baghdad, two bombs hit the convoy of a senior interior ministry official, killing seven people. | Earlier in Baghdad, two bombs hit the convoy of a senior interior ministry official, killing seven people. |
| And doctors said at least 31 bodies were found in the town of Balad, mainly Sunnis killed in apparent revenge for the earlier killing of 14 Shias. | And doctors said at least 31 bodies were found in the town of Balad, mainly Sunnis killed in apparent revenge for the earlier killing of 14 Shias. |
| Iraq has seen a surge of violence in the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. | Iraq has seen a surge of violence in the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. |
| In a separate development, a coalition of Sunni Muslim insurgents released an internet video statement proclaiming an independent Islamic state covering Baghdad and several other provinces stretching as far north as Kirkuk. | |
| The statement was from the Mutayibeen Coalition, which reports said was formed earlier in the week by the insurgent umbrella group, the Mujahideen Shura Council. | |
| In Kirkuk, police say the string of attacks injured more than 70 people. | |
| All involved car bombs, some of which were detonated by suicide attackers, police said. | All involved car bombs, some of which were detonated by suicide attackers, police said. |
| Two police units and an American military patrol were targeted, as well as a crowded market. | |
| Another bomb targeted the local headquarters of a security agency that protects government installations, but hit a training college for female teachers, killing two students, police said. | |
| "A suicide bomber blew himself up as the girls were leaving the school. Two of them were completely burned in the flames," Brigadier General Adel Ibrahim of the Kirkuk police told AFP news agency. | "A suicide bomber blew himself up as the girls were leaving the school. Two of them were completely burned in the flames," Brigadier General Adel Ibrahim of the Kirkuk police told AFP news agency. |
| Confusion | Confusion |
| The city police chief is believed to have been the target in one case, although it is not clear whether he was in the area at the time. | The city police chief is believed to have been the target in one case, although it is not clear whether he was in the area at the time. |
| Kirkuk - an ethnically mixed city 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad - was the scene of a major security operation by Iraqi and US forces last weekend. | Kirkuk - an ethnically mixed city 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad - was the scene of a major security operation by Iraqi and US forces last weekend. |
| Many people were arrested and stores of weapons confiscated. | Many people were arrested and stores of weapons confiscated. |
| But the BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says that bloodshed often resumes as soon as such operations wind down. | But the BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says that bloodshed often resumes as soon as such operations wind down. |
| Kirkuk has large populations of Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen, is located in the main oil producing region in northern Iraq, and has often been hit by violence in the last three years. | Kirkuk has large populations of Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen, is located in the main oil producing region in northern Iraq, and has often been hit by violence in the last three years. |
| Sectarian killings | Sectarian killings |
| In Baghdad, Sunday's bombing killed five passers-by and two security men, police told AFP. | In Baghdad, Sunday's bombing killed five passers-by and two security men, police told AFP. |
| Senior official Hala Shakr Salim survived the attack in Baghdad | Senior official Hala Shakr Salim survived the attack in Baghdad |
| The interior ministry's head of finance, Hala Shakr Salim, survived the attack on her motorcade as it drove through the eastern district of Mustansiriya. | The interior ministry's head of finance, Hala Shakr Salim, survived the attack on her motorcade as it drove through the eastern district of Mustansiriya. |
| There has also been a spate of sectarian killings over the weekend in the town of Balad, 80 km (50 miles) west of Baghdad. | There has also been a spate of sectarian killings over the weekend in the town of Balad, 80 km (50 miles) west of Baghdad. |
| A curfew has been imposed after the bodies of at least 31 Sunnis were found, two days after at least 14 Shia workers were found in an orchard with their throats slit and hands and legs bound. | A curfew has been imposed after the bodies of at least 31 Sunnis were found, two days after at least 14 Shia workers were found in an orchard with their throats slit and hands and legs bound. |
| The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says that although violence has increased during Ramadan in recent years, all types of attack are at record highs since the US-led invasion in 2003. | The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says that although violence has increased during Ramadan in recent years, all types of attack are at record highs since the US-led invasion in 2003. |
| Separately, it was announced that five US soldiers died on Saturday - four in two incidents in Baghdad, the fifth in Fallujah to the west. | Separately, it was announced that five US soldiers died on Saturday - four in two incidents in Baghdad, the fifth in Fallujah to the west. |