Iraq Bombings Raise Fears of Resurgent Violence

[tekisui]

Source: New York Times

BAGHDAD — Deadly blasts shook Baghdad for the second time in three days on Tuesday, deepening fears that Iraq was teetering on the edge of a new outbreak of insurgent and sectarian violence, officials said.

At least seven bombings of residential areas of the capital, both Shiite and Sunni, killed 35 people and wounded more than 140. The violence came against a backdrop of continuing political instability after March 7 parliamentary elections rendered a fractured result that has left no single group with the ability to form a government, forcing a scramble for coalitions.

A similar political void after the 2005 parliamentary vote sparked months of violence and preceded Iraq’s bloody sectarian warfare of 2006 and 2007, from which the country has only begun to emerge.

There are also new concerns that the country’s Army and police may drift back into sectarianism amidst the political tumult.

“The security forces have lost direction,” said Baha al-Araje, a Sadrist member of Parliament. “They don’t know what will become of them. They are scared they will lose their positions if the government changes. What we need now is a kind of selflessness among all the blocs to quickly form the next government.”

The explosions on Tuesday came after at least 30 people were killed and more than 240 were wounded during attacks Sunday on diplomatic buildings in Baghdad, including the Iranian Embassy.

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/world/middleeast/07iraq.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Winterblues]

1. Two and a half months left until all US combat forces are supposed to be out of there.

End of June.....All US Combat Forces must be out of Iraq..unless of course the word of the USA is no good...:shrug: