Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

51 killed in twin car bombings in Iraq

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-04-30 19:27

Iraqis gather following several car bombs in the market place in Baghdad's eastern Sadr City district. The Iraqi army has blamed a wave of near-simultaneous bombings that killed more than 50 people in mostly Shiite districts of Baghdad on loyalists of Saddam Hussein's toppled regime. [Agencies]

Many Iraqis also fear there will be more violence ahead of a national election late this year, as political rivals and armed groups jostle for dominance of the oil-producing country.

Related readings:  Blasts kill 78 in Iraq's bloodiest day in a year  Suicide bomber kills 9 Sunni militiamen in Iraq

US President Barack Obama said Wednesday the string of recent deadly bombings was a cause for concern, but the political system was functioning and violence was low compared to a year ago.

Analysts said Iraq is likely to suffer suicide and car bomb attacks for several more years. While that will certainly present a dire threat to Iraqi civilians, it is less clear whether it presents a mortal threat to the state.

More dangerous to Iraq's medium-term stability than bombs is the fact not enough has been done in the political arena to foster reconciliation between Sunnis and Shi'ites, the analysts say.

Iraq has also failed to take steps to ease tensions over land and oil between Arabs and minority Kurds in the north.

   Previous page 1 2 3 4 5 Next Page  

   Previous page 1 2 3 4 5 Next Page