More than 70 killed in wave of Baghdad bombings

By Kareem Raheem
BAGHDAD | Mon May 27, 2013 3:52pm EDT
(Reuters) - More than 70 people were killed in a wave of bombings in markets in Shi'ite neighborhoods across Baghdad on Monday in worsening sectarian violence in Iraq.

No group claimed responsibility for the blasts. But Sunni Muslim Islamist insurgents and al-Qaeda' s Iraqi wing have increased attacks since the beginning of the year and often target Shi'ite districts.

More than a dozen blasts tore into markets and shopping areas in districts across the Iraqi capital, including twin bombs just several hundred meters apart that killed at least 13 people in the capital's Sadr City area, police and hospital officials said.

"A driver hit another car and left pretending to bring traffic police. Another car rushed to take him away and right after his car exploded among people who had gathered to see what was happening," said bystander Hassan Kadhim. "People were shouting for help and blood covered their faces."

Tensions between the Shi'ite leadership and the Sunni Muslim minority are at their worst since U.S. troops left in December 2011, and the conflict in Syria is straining Iraq's fragile communal balance.

More than 700 people were killed in attacks in April, according to a U.N. count, the highest monthly toll in almost five years. So far in May more than 300 have died.

Thousands of Sunnis began staging street protests last December against Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, whom they accuse of marginalizing their sect since the fall of Saddam Hussein after the 2003 invasion.

The latest surge in violence began in April after a raid by the Iraqi army on a Sunni Muslim protest camp in the town of Hawija led to clashes with the security forces and more attacks.

Bombings on Shi'ite and Sunni mosques, security forces and Sunni tribal leaders over a month-long surge in violence are heightening worries Iraq risks returning to the level of sectarian violence that killed thousands in 2006-2007.

(Additional reporting by Ahmed Rasheed in Baghdad; Writing by Patrick Markey; Editing by Angus MacSwan)



イラク首都の爆弾攻撃で70人超死亡、宗派対立が悪化の一途

2013年 05月 28日 10:14 JST

［バグダッド　27日　ロイター］ - イラクの首都バグダッドのイスラム教シーア派居住区で27日、爆弾攻撃が相次いで発生し、70人以上が死亡した。同国では宗派対立が悪化の一途をたどっており、2011年12月の米軍撤退後、最悪の事態となっている。

犯行声明は出ていないものの、イラクでは今年に入ってからスンニ派武装勢力や国際武装組織アルカイダ系のグループが、シーア派居住区を狙った攻撃を繰り返している。

この日は、市場や商店街などで10回以上の爆発が起き、同市サドルシティーでは13人が死亡したという。

国連によると、４月には700人以上が死亡し、１カ月の死者数としては過去５年で最多。５月はこれまでに300人以上が死亡している。内戦が続くシリア情勢もイラクの宗派対立の悪化の要因になっているとされている。