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Increasing tensions: At least 69 people were killed in bombings on 22 December in Baghdad. AP Photo/Hadi Mizban/PA File
Iraq
At least 24 killed in Baghdad explosions
The bombings come amid increasing sectarian tensions following the withdrawal of US combat troops from Iraq.
A SPATE OF EXPLOSIONS in the Iraqi capital Baghdad have killed at least 24 people and injured another 66 in Shia areas of the city.
Al Jazeera reports that three bombs exploded in the north-east of Baghdad as labourers queued for work, while two bombs went off in another northern Baghdad district.
A series of explosions in the city last month killed at least 69 people.
The attacks come amid increasing sectarian tensions following the withdrawal of US combat troops from Iraq last month. Iraq’s vice-president Tariq al-Hashimi has blamed the prime minister Nouri Kamal al-Maliki for the recent escalating violence and said it would be very difficult for both to sign up to any power-sharing agreement.
Meanwhile, an arrest warrant was issued recently for al-Hashimi on terrorism charges; he denies the accusations. The BBC reports that he is currently under the protection of the regional government in Iraqi Kurdistan.
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