Car bomb kills dozens in Baghdad
US troops have been implementing a crackdown in Sadr City in recent weeks
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Tuesday, 19, Jun 2007 05:53
A car bomb in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad has killed at least 78 people, reports from the scene suggest.
The attack in the centre of the city took place early this morning, injuring over 200 people.
It came as 10,000 US troops began a major campaign against al-Qaeda linked insurgents to the north of Baghdad.
Operation Arrowhead Ripper is focusing in and around the city of Baquba in Diyala province.
Part of the wall of the nearby Shia al-Khilani mosque was knocked down during this morning's explosion.
Prime minister Nuri al-Maliki blamed the attacks on "Saddamists and Takfiris", a term often used to describe al-Qaeda, according to the Reuters news agency.
"It shows [their] determination to ignite sectarian violence," he said.
Today's attack comes after a period of relative calm in the troubled city, as a strict curfew appeared to have had an effect on insurgency.
The curfew was imposed last week after the al-Askari mosque, revered by Iraq's Shia community, in Samarra was bombed and had its two minarets destroyed.
Reprisal attacks in Baghdad were feared, prompting restrictions on vehicles and large gatherings to be ordered until last Sunday.