Big explosion in Baghdad - witnesses

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

Big explosion in Baghdad - witnesses
BAGHDAD, June 19 (Reuters) - A big explosion rocked central Baghdad on Tuesday, and large clouds of black smoke could be seen rising from the scene, Reuters reporters said.

Gunfire erupted moments after the explosion, which follows a relatively quiet period in the capital after a curfew was imposed for four days last week.

Read more: http://wap.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L19613321.htm

[gaiilonfong]

1. So the surge is working????????YEAH RIGHT

Another day, more innocent people killed.

[bluerum]

6. Wow - post #1 - welcome. eom

[Warpy]

11. Welcome to DU

There seems to be a lot of good folks joining all of a sudden.

[Javaman]

16. who's surge? ours or theirs? nt

[maddezmom]

2. Two killed in Baghdad car bomb - police

Two killed in Baghdad car bomb - police
(Adds details)

BAGHDAD, June 19 (Reuters) - Two people were killed and five wounded by a car bomb in central Baghdad on Tuesday, Iraqi police said.

One witness said several cars were on fire at the scene, near a Shi'ite mosque. Reuters reporters saw large clouds of black smoke rising into the air.

Gunfire erupted moments after the blast, which follows a relatively quiet period in the capital after a curfew was imposed for four days last week in the wake of an attack on a revered Shi'ite mosque north of Baghdad.

http://wap.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BUL936727.htm

[Eagle_Eye]

3. George Bush's campaign of never ending violence strikes again

No solution to the situation in Iraq will be found by the military or by violence.
We must withdraw our troops and start the process to find a diplomatic solution.

[Eugene]

4. Bomb Strikes Near Shiite Mosque in Iraq (at least 12 dead, 50 wounded)

Source: Associated Press

Bomb Strikes Near Shiite Mosque in Iraq

Tuesday June 19, 2007 11:31 AM

BAGHDAD (AP) - A car bomb struck near a Shiite mosque
in a busy commercial district Tuesday in Baghdad, killing
at least 12 people and wounding more than 50, police said.

The thunderous explosion, which occurred just before 2 p.m.,
sent smoke billowing over concrete buildings two days after
the expiration of a curfew aimed at preventing retaliatory
violence after last week's bombing of a Shiite mosque in
Samarra.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6720059,00.html

[maddezmom]

5. DEATH TOLL IN BAGHDAD CAR BOMBING RISES TO 10, WITH 32 WOUNDED -

DEATH TOLL IN BAGHDAD CAR BOMBING RISES TO 10, WITH 32 WOUNDED -
BAGHDAD, June 19 (Reuters) - The death toll from a car bomb attack in central Baghdad on Tuesday rose to 16, with 75 people wounded, police said.

One witness said the wall of a nearby Shi'ite mosque had been knocked down by the blast.

http://wap.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L19613321.htm

[maddezmom]

7. Car bombing in Baghdad kills 22 and 75 wounded

BAGHDAD - A car bomb struck near a Shiite mosque in a busy commercial district Tuesday in Baghdad, killing at least 22 people and wounding more than 50, police said.

The thunderous explosion, which occurred just before 2 p.m., sent smoke billowing over concrete buildings two days after the expiration of a curfew aimed at preventing retaliatory violence after last week's bombing of a Shiite mosque in Samarra.

Gunfire erupted shortly after the blast, which a police officer said went off near the Khillani mosque in the commercial area of Sinak.

Police and hospital officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because of security concerns, gave the casualty toll as at least 22 people killed and 75 wounded

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070619/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_070616155296

[Eugene]

8. Car bombing in Baghdad kills 22

Source: Reuters (AlertNet)

DEATH TOLL IN BAGHDAD CAR BOMBING RISES TO 40,
WITH 70 WOUNDED -- POLICE QUOTING HOSPITAL FIGURES

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L19808333.htm

---

Source: Associated Press

Car bombing in Baghdad kills 22

By LAUREN FRAYER, Associated Press Writer
6 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - A car bomb struck near a Shiite mosque in a busy
commercial district Tuesday in Baghdad, killing at least 22
people and wounding more than 50, police said.

The thunderous explosion, which occurred just before 2 p.m.,
sent smoke billowing over concrete buildings two days after
the expiration of a curfew aimed at preventing retaliatory
violence after last week's bombing of a Shiite mosque in
Samarra.

Gunfire erupted shortly after the blast, which a police
officer said went off near the Khillani mosque in the
commercial area of Sinak.

Police and hospital officials, speaking on condition of
anonymity because of security concerns, gave the casualty
toll as at least 22 people killed and 75 wounded.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070619/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

[maddezmom]

9. DEATH TOLL IN BAGHDAD CAR BOMBING RISES TO 40, WITH 70 WOUNDED -

http://wap.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L19808333.htm

[maddezmom]

10. BAGHDAD CAR BOMB DEATH TOLL RISES TO 60 -- POLICE

http://wap.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L19258370.htm

[DemReadingDU]

12. MSNBC - target was Shiite mosque

At least 61 killed, scores hurt in Baghdad blast
Target was Shiite mosque in busy commercial district of Iraqi capital

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19301194/

[maddezmom]

13. BAGHDAD CAR BOMB DEATH TOLL RISES TO 75 -- POLICE

BAGHDAD CAR BOMB DEATH TOLL RISES TO 75 -- POLICE
BAGHDAD, June 19 (Reuters) - The death toll from a car bomb attack near a Shi'ite mosque in central Baghdad on Tuesday rose to 75, with another 130 wounded, Iraqi police said.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=102&topic_id=2885686&mesg_id=2885686

[Eugene]

14. 75 killed by bombing at Baghdad mosque

Source: Associated Press

75 killed by bombing at Baghdad mosque

By LAUREN FRAYER, Associated Press Writer
11 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - A truck bomb struck a Shiite mosque Tuesday in
central Baghdad, killing 75 people and wounding more than 200,
even as about 10,000 U.S. soldiers northeast of the capital
used heavily armored Stryker and Bradley fighting vehicles to
battle their way into an al-Qaida sanctuary.

-snip-

A police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because
of security concerns, said the car that exploded was parked
in a lot near the mosque and it damaged the outer wall of the
building.

Police and hospital officials said at least 75 people were
killed and 204 were wounded, adding that the toll could rise
as bodies were pulled from the debris.

The mosque's imam, Sheik Saleh al-Haidari, said it was a
truck bomb and the explosion hit worshippers as they were
leaving afternoon prayers.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070619/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

[Massachusetts]

15. Holy bu$h!

FUBAR! Impeach when? Bring OUR Troops Home NOW.

[alfredo]

17. Skip impeachment, send his mangy ass to the hague.

[Joanne98]

18. Bomb kills 78 in Baghdad, U.S. in big offensive

Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A suspected al Qaeda bomber killed 78 people when he rammed a truck into a Shi'ite mosque in Baghdad on Tuesday, just hours after 10,000 U.S. troops began an offensive against the Sunni Islamist group north of the capital.

The offensive around the city of Baquba in Diyala province is partly aimed at al Qaeda car bomb networks that cause carnage in Baghdad. It is one of the biggest military operations since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

One witness said the bomber drove his truck into the Khilani mosque in Baghdad, destroying one wall and wrecking part of the building's interior. The mosque's signature turquoise dome appeared to have suffered little damage.

Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki blamed the attacks on "Saddamists and Takfiris", a term commonly used by Iraqi officials to describe al Qaeda. "It shows (their) determination to ignite sectarian violence," Maliki said in a statement.




Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSCOL02152020070619

[Xipe Totec]

19. Saddamists and Takfiris

Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki blamed the attacks on "Saddamists and Takfiris," a term commonly used by Iraqi officials to describe al Qaeda. "It shows (their) determination to ignite sectarian violence," Maliki said in a statement.

You can always trust Reuters to read between the lines and tell you what people really mean. Here are some other stories with cleverly disguised references to al Qaeda:



Blocked China Web users rage against Great Firewall. Yang Zhou is no cyberdissident (a term commonly used by Chinese officials to describe al Qaeda), but recent curbs on his Web surfing habits by China's censors have him fomenting discontent about China's "Great Firewall."


U.S. envoy hopes for 6-way talks on NKorea in July. The International Atomic Energy Agency (a term commonly used by American officials to describe al Qaeda) has said it will send a senior delegation next week to agree on details for a return of its inspectors to monitor Pyongyang's promised nuclear reactor shutdown.



Third-party candidates long shot in election. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (a long time al Qaeda mole, according to Republican officials) may have what it takes to run a strong third-party presidential bid, the subject of growing talk, but the odds of winning are practically nil, experts say.



Democratic candidates squabble over Iraq war. The Democratic presidential contenders (a term commonly used by the Bush Administration to describe al Qaeda) squabbled over Iraq on Tuesday, with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (long time al Qaeda operative) a target of criticism for her 2002 vote to authorize the war and her suggestion some U.S. troops may be there for years.



Thunderstorms blamed on al Qaeda spread from the Great Lakes to the Tennessee Valley early Tuesday, while sultry air settled over the East Coast and high pressure kept the Plains and West calm. A cold front (an al Qaeda weapon of choice) was moving through the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee valleys, as well as the Great Lakes region, pushing showers and thunderstorms eastward.



(Thank you, Reuters!)

[acmavm]

21. 'Suspected' as Qaeda bomber? What, he didn't have his membership

card and nametag with him?

[maddezmom]

20. Bomber kills 87 in Baghdad mosque attack,( 151 dead Tuesday )

Bomber kills 87 in Baghdad mosque attack By STEVEN R. HURST, Associated Press Writer
14 minutes ago



BAGHDAD - A truck bomber attacked a revered Shiite shrine in the heart of Baghdad on Tuesday, killing at least 87 people and wounding more than 200 in a resumption of Iraq's relentless sectarian slaughter. The mosque's turquoise dome survived, but the blast buried some worshippers and badly burned others.

Northeast of the capital, a force of 10,000 U.S. soldiers firing artillery and using heavily armored Stryker and Bradley Fighting Vehicles fought their way through western Baqouba and other al-Qaida sanctuaries in Diyala province. U.S. helicopters and jet fighters flew cover.

In all, 151 people were killed or found dead in sectarian violence Tuesday, a toll reflecting carnage associated with the months before the U.S. security crackdown in the capital began Feb. 14.

The Pentagon is required to issue an initial assessment of the operation next month, and Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, will report in September. The Democratic-controlled Congress set those reporting deadlines to pressure the White House and American military leadership to make quick progress in curbing violence here so U.S. troops — now 155,000 — can be pulled away from the increasingly unpopular war.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070620/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_070616155325

[Eugene]

22. Updated AP: 87 killed in Baghdad mosque bombing (2 Sunni mosques attacked in Iraq)

Source: Associated Press

87 killed in Baghdad mosque bombing

By STEVEN R. HURST, Associated Press Writer
9 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - Gunmen blew up two Sunni mosques Wednesday south
of Baghdad, causing heavy damage but no casualties, police said,
in an apparent retaliatory attack a day after a suicide truck
bombing devastated a revered Shiite mosque in the heart of the
capital, killing at least 87 people.

Thousands of U.S. and Iraqi troops, meanwhile, pressed forward
on the second day of an operation aimed at clearing out a Sunni
insurgent stronghold northeast of Baghdad. The U.S. military
said at least 30 al-Qaida fighters were killed and several bombs
and weapons caches destroyed as the soldiers fought their way
through the streets of Baqouba.

-snip-

Sectarian violence persisted to the south, with suspected Shiite
militiamen detonating a bomb inside a Sunni mosque in Haswa,
30 miles south of Baghdad, at about 1 a.m., then in another
mosque near Hillah, about 60 miles south of the capital, about six
hours later, local police officers said, speaking on condition of
anonymity because of security concerns.

The attackers near Hillah also targeted the imam's house near the
mosque, but the cleric fled when he saw them coming, according
to the police.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070620/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq