Seven killed by Baghdad car bomb
" A roadside bomb also killed two US Marines near the city of Falluja, the US military has said.
The Marines died on Thursday when their patrol was targeted near the city, 65 kilometres (40 miles) west of Baghdad. "
At least seven people were killed and 22 wounded by a car bomb in the southern Doura district of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, police said.
The bomb exploded about 10m from the Shia Iskan al-Shaabi mosque at 1300 (1000 GMT). Most of the victims were worshippers attending Friday prayers.
Shia Muslims have frequently been the target of insurgent violence.
A roadside bomb also killed two US Marines near the city of Falluja, the US military has said.
The Marines died on Thursday when their patrol was targeted near the city, 65 kilometres (40 miles) west of Baghdad.
The deaths take the number of US soldiers killed to more than 2,260 since the Iraq war began in March 2003.
Falluja is tightly controlled by the US military following a US-led offensive in November 2004.
The operation was meant to end insurgent activity in the city.
Mosque blast
In Doura, the bomb caused chaos, a man who was praying at the time of the blast said.
RISE IN INSURGENT ATTACKS
2004
Total attacks: 26496
Improvised bombs: 5607
Car bombings: 420
Suicide car bombings: 133
Suicide bombers wearing explosive vests: 7
2005
Total attacks: 34131
Improvised bombs: 10593
Car bombings: 873
Suicide car bombings: 411
Suicide bombers wearing explosive vests: 67
"Some worshippers were leaving and others were praying inside when the explosion blasted glass all over us and smoke filled the mosque," Ahmed Hasan told the Associated Press.
"Outside we were shocked to see so many wounded people and cars on fire."
Meanwhile, figures released by multi-national forces in Iraq show a sharp rise in attacks on their troops in 2005 from 2004.
Attacks using improvised explosive devises rose from 5,607 in 2004 to 10,593 in 2005.
Suicide attacks using cars rose from 133 in 2004 to 411 in 2005.
Attacks by militants wearing vests carrying explosives rose from 7 in 2004 to 67 in 2005.
US officials have said that the figures should not be seen as evidence that insurgents are gaining ground because the effectiveness of their attacks declined.
Story from BBC NEWS:
news.bbc.co.uk
Published: 2006/02/10 12:27:47 GMT |
