Car bombs in Baquba and Ramadi kill at least 52 people
Tuesday, 15 Apr 2008 12:59
Car bombs in Baquba and Ramadi kill at least 52 people
A series of car bombs have exploded in Baquba and Ramadi, killing at least 52 people and marking one of the worst days of violence in Iraq in months.
In Baquba at least 38 people were killed and dozens more injured after an explosive-laden car blew up near government offices.
While in Ramadi, the capital of the Anbar province, 14 people died when a car exploded outside a restaurant.
Both blasts took place around midday local time.
The Associated Press agency has quoted local police officer Jubair al-Dulaimi as confirming the death toll and suggesting 14 further people were injured in Ramadi.
Baquba and Ramadi have both been insurgent strongholds in the past, with the former believed to be currently housing militants linked to al-Qaida after they were driven out of Iraq's capital Baghdad.
Ramadi though has seen a considerable decline in violence recently after Sunni tribal leaders joined with coalition and Iraqi forces against al-Qaida.