Co-ordinated bomb attacks killed more than 32 people across Iraq yesterday, the latest violence in an insurgency the government has failed to quell more than nine months after the last US troops withdrew.
No group claimed responsibility for the string of attacks, but a local al-Qaeda affiliate and other Sunni Islamist groups have carried out at least one major assault a month since the last American troops left Iraq in December.
In Taji, 20km (12 miles) north of Baghdad, bombs in three parked cars went off separately, killing 11 people and wounding 24, including several policemen. In Baghdad, three separate bombs killed eight people, including a police officer.
In the city of Kut, 150km (95 miles) southeast of Baghdad, a suicide bomber driving a car blew himself up, killing four policemen, police and local officials said.
Another attack targeted a bus carrying Iranian pilgrims as it passed through the town of Madaen, about 30km (20 miles) southeast of Baghdad. Two passersby were killed.
Two more policemen were killed when a car bomb went off in the town of Balad Ruz, 90km (55 miles) northeast of Baghdad, and a bomb planted in a parked car in al-Qaeda stronghold Mosul killed a civilian.
Further attacks around the country killed a further four people and left scores wounded. – (Reuters)