Baghdad attacks claim 12 lives

Press TV, Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:36:50 GMT

Coordinated attacks in the Iraqi capital have claimed the lives of 12 people, leaving 36 others injured, Baghdad's operations command has said.

The incident took place at the rear gate of Rusafa military command headquarters on unday

"I was shot in two places, and I tried to hide behind the car. When I looked for my colleagues again, they were not there -- all I saw was blood and the vests that they had set aside," AFP quoted a policeman as saying on condition of anonymity.

Iraq continues to grapple with violence in the eighth year of the United States military presence in the country.

The US has said it will withdraw its soldiers from the country by the end of next year.

Analysts, however, have cast serious doubts on the claim, saying that the continued US presence in Iraq would serve US interests, given the large-scale American investment there.

HN/AKM/MMN

Baghdad blast casualties up to 20

September 5, 2010 - 02:15:49

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq:

Casualties from Sunday’s earlier car bomb attack in central Baghdad rose to five civilian deaths and 15 others wounded, an interior ministry source said.

“A car bomb parked at al-Maydan square, central Baghdad, went off, near the old building of the defense ministry followed by a suicide attack with a car bomb, leaving five killed and 15 others wounded,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

He expected the number of casualties to grow.

However, Maj. General Qassem Atta, the official spokesman for the Baghdad Operations Command (BOC), told Aswat al-Iraq that two soldiers were killed and eight civilians wounded in a car bomb blast that targeted the old building of the defense ministry, the headquarters of the Iraqi army’s 11th Division in Bab al-Muadham, central Baghdad.

Earlier, a press release published on the BOC web site said that the suicide bomber who attacked the defense ministry building detonated his explosive vehicle after he came under security forces’ fire.

“The bomber detonated his explosive-rigged car near the back gate of the defense ministry building in al-Maydan square, leaving two persons killed and eight others wounded,” read the release published on the BOC web site.

“Gunfire was heard prior to the bombing as security forces shot at the terrorist who did not succumb to the warning signals,” it added.

AmR (S)

Suicide bomber detonated car after being shot – BOC

September 5, 2010 - 02:05:43

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq:

The suicide bomber who attacked the defense ministry building in central Baghdad earlier on Sunday detonated his explosive vehicle after he came under security forces’ fire, according to a release by the Baghdad Operations Command (BOC).

“The bomber detonated his explosive-rigged car near the back gate of the defense ministry building in al-Maydan square, leaving two persons killed and eight others wounded,” read the release published on the BOC web site.

“Gunfire was heard prior to the bombing as security forces shot at the terrorist who did not succumb to the warning signals,” it added.

Earlier, a security source said a civilian man was killed and five others wounded in a car bomb attack in the area between Bab al-Muadham and al-Maydan square.

The mounting acts of violence took place as the government formation crisis is still going on amidst differences flaring up among the three top political blocs over the prime minister post.

They also come five days after U.S. combat troops withdrew from Iraq while 50,000 still remain in the war-troubled oil-rich country for consultancy and training purposes.

AmR (S)

Civilian killed, 2 wounded in IED blast in Baghdad

September 5, 2010 - 10:20:35

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq:

A civilian man was killed and two civilians others wounded when an improvised explosive device attached to his vehicle went off in southern Baghdad on Sunday, a security source said.

“An IED attached to the vehicle of an employee working for al-Rasafa Reformatory Department went off just as he was stepping out of his house on 60 street, al-Dora area, southern Baghdad, killing him instantly,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

“The explosion also left two civilians others wounded and several nearby stores damaged,” he added.

AmR (P)

Civilian killed, 7 wounded in Baghdad blasts

September 5, 2010 - 10:14:39

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq:

A civilian man was killed and seven other wounded in blasts from two improvised explosive devices in western Baghdad, according to a security source on Sunday.

“Two IEDs went off successively on al-Madaris street, al-Hurriya neighborhood, northwestern Baghdad, during a late hour of Saturday (Sept. 4), leaving a civilian killed and seven others injured,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

“The explosions also caused damage to a number of nearby buildings,” he added.

In another incident Saturday night, the source said, a mortar shell landed in the heavily-fortified green zone in central Baghdad but there was no word of casualties or losses.

AmR (P)