TEMPO.CO, Bagdad - At least 31 people were killed in a series of car bombs explosions in a number of Iraqi cities, police and medics told the media, Monday, May 20..
Eight car bombs exploded in Shia-majority districts in Iraqi capital, Baghdad, killing 20 people on Monday. Around the same time, 11 others were killed by bomb explosions in the city and Basra.
The series of car bomb attacks in the last few weeks is assumed to be highly-related to the increasing tensions between minority Sunni Muslims and Shia, who now lead Iraq after the US pulled out its troops in December 2011.
Two car bombs were reported to have exploded in, a predominantly Shia city located 420 km southeast of Baghdad. The first bomb struck neighboring city, Hananiya, near a busy market and restaurant. "The second bomb was detonated inside a bus terminal in Saad Square," police and medics said.
According to United Nation's (UN) data, more than 700 people were killed in April, the highest in the last five years. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein by US-led forces in 2003, the minority Sunnis have been bitter about the Shia dominance.
Al Jazeera reporter Omar al-Saleh cited police sources saying at least eight car bombs had exploded. He said that violence has gripped Iraq in the past week. "For the past week more than 150 people [have been] killed and the government [is] basically saying that whoever is behind the attacks wants to re-ignite sectarian strife," al-Saleh said.
No one had claimed responsibility for the deadly car bombs. The Iraqi government, al-Saleh said, was quick to "point an accusing finger at groups linked to al-Qaeda."
AL JAZEERA | CHOIRUL
