53 killed in Baghdad bomb attacks

TWO BOMB ATTACKS IN BAGHDAD have killed dozens of people today and injured over 150 others.

More people have died in violence in Iraq in the past 10 days than were killed in the months of November or in December.

At lunchtime, car bomb explosion killed 48 people at a funeral ceremony in a Shiite district, the AFP reports.

Images from the scene show destroyed buildings, pools of blood and scattered clothing.

The attack sparked angry protests over security failures and sparked scuffles between police and demonstrators, according to the PA. Angry locals blocked the streets with burning tyres, and attacked security forces who arrived on the scene of the explosion.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ordered the arrest of the area’s security chief and said the army had dispersed the crowds by firing into the air.

Separately today, five people were killed and 21 injured after a roadside bomb and a minibus exploded. Since 18 January, 192 people have been killed in Iraq, compared with 171 in November and 151 in December.