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Baghdad Car Bombs Kill at Least 136

Twin explosions detonate near key ministries during rush hour

By the Associated Press

Posted Oct 25, 2009 8:16 AM CDT

(AP) – Two powerful car bombs exploded in downtown Baghdad today, killing at least 136 people and wounding nearly 600 in an apparent attempt to target the fragile city's government offices, Iraqi authorities said. The blasts went off less than a minute apart near two prominent government institutions—the Ministry of Justice and the headquarters of the Baghdad provincial administration's headquarters—during the morning rush hour.

At least 25 staff members of the Baghdad Provincial Council, which runs the city, were killed in the bombing, which was just a few hundred yards from Iraq's Foreign Ministry, which is still rebuilding after massive bombings in August killed about 100. The area is also just a few hundred yards from the Green Zone that houses the US Embassy as well as the prime minister's offices. The explosions also injured nearly 600 people.

[Images (5)]

[Quotes (1)]

Iraqis gather at the site of a massive bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. (Khalid Mohammed)

An injured man walks away after a massive bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Karim kadim)

The dead body of a man is carried away from the blast scene after being killed by a massive bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

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They are targeting the government and the political process in the country. - Gen. Qassim Atta, spokesman for the Baghdad Security Service

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 13 comments

So_Cal_Larry

Oct 27, 2009 1:59 AM CDT

Guess who's back in Iraq? Perhaps those who we bribed to stop fighting us? Perhaps those who learned a long time ago how easy it is to destabilize a government with some cheap explosives and indocrinated Muslims who can't wait to see god? Are the perpetrators enemies of Iraq? The United States? Israel? Afghanistan? Saudi Arabia? Pakistan? Lebanon? It is difficult to believe that we did absolutely nothing since the oil crisis of the early 1970s when President Carter gave these important warnings. Who dunnit?

Netstorm2k10

Oct 26, 2009 12:25 PM CDT

For some reason my comment didn't show, but I'll repeat: "They deserve to be eliminated from the face of the earth, all of them! " Does that sound familiar to anyone? Perhaps you advocate a "Final Solution" to the Muslim problem? My point is: how do you expect to cure hate with more hate?

cochiserocks

Oct 26, 2009 7:14 AM CDT

That's some ignorant stuff you just wrote there 'doingtherightthing'. Real ignorant, real inflammatory and real disappointing.

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Baghdad Car Bombs Kill at Least 136