A wave of attacks Tuesday in more than a dozen Iraqi cities killed at least 51 people on the anniversary of the US-led invasion of the country, just days before Baghdad hosts a landmark Arab summit.
The violence, which left more than 190 people wounded, bore the hallmarks of al Qaeda, which typically tries to launch coordinated nationwide mass-casualty bombing campaigns, although no one immediately claimed responsibility.
It was swiftly condemned by Iraq’s parliament speaker as a bid by the jihadist group to derail this month’s summit, while United Nations envoy Martin Kobler described the violence as “atrocious”.
Bombings and shootings rocked 14 towns and cities spanning the northern oil hub of Kirkuk and the Shia shrine city of Karbala, south of Baghdad, from 7:00 am (0400 GMT), in the deadliest violence to strike Iraq in more than two months. “We lost everything,” said Mohammed Sobheh, a policeman wounded in the Kirkuk attack. “Not one of my colleagues is alive — they were all killed.”
“I will never forget their screams, as long as I live.”
In central Baghdad, a car bomb exploded in the car park opposite the foreign ministry, despite dramatically heightened security in the capital in preparation for the March 27-29 Arab League summit.
At least three people were killed and nine wounded, officials said, underscoring concerns over Iraq’s ability to maintain security for the meeting. Following the attacks, the government declared a week of public holidays from March 25 to April 1.
