Triple bomb attacks in Iraq kill 40, shaikhs among dead

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.ae/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/focusoniraq/2007/June/focusoniraq_June123.xml§ion=focusoniraq&col=

BAGHDAD - At least 40 people were killed and scores injured in three separate suicide bombing attacks in Iraq on Monday, the most spectacular a blast which ripped through a conference centre in a central Baghdad hotel, killing 12 people.

At least 15 others were wounded in the attack on the Mansour Hotel, carried out by a suicide bomber wearing an explosives belt.

Iraqi police sources said Sunni tribal leaders attending a conference at the hotel were among the dead. Also killed was the poet Rahim Al Maliki, who works as a producer and presenter at the official Al Iraqiya TV channel.

The hotel, located close to the heavily-fortified Green Zone, is used by many guests from overseas including foreign press organizations. It was not immediately clear how the suicide bomber bypassed the stringent security measures in operation at the building.

The tribal leaders were from the formerly restive province of Anbar, where local clans have since the beginning of the year aligned with US and Iraqi security forces to purge the region of Islamist insurgent groups.

[Atman]

1. Whew. The morning news said only about 15-20 were killed

But that was drive-time...we want 'Murins going to work with the most positive happy thoughts, right?!

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