Spate of Blasts Kill at Least 95 in Baghdad

Truck bombs struck the Foreign and Finance ministries in Baghdad yesterday, with other explosions throughout the city killing at least 95 people and wounded over 400 more. The attacks brought renewed questions regarding Iraqi security forces’ ability to maintain order in the region in the wake of the withdrawal of U.S. forces from urban areas there. American forces assisted Iraqis yesterday, but were relegated to a support role. Said Lt. Col. Philip Smith, a spokesman for U.S. forces in Baghdad, "We helped the victims when and where we could, in accordance with our Iraqi allies’ requests."

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki blamed the attacks on Sunni insurgents who are said to be linked to al-Qaida. Add al-Maliki, "The criminal acts that took place today require us to re-evaluate our plans and security mechanisms in order to confront the terrorist challenges and to increase cooperation between security forces and the Iraqi people." Al-Maliki also noted that Iraqi military forces are in a state of high alert, and ready to deal with any future threats posed by militants in the region.

The first blast to occur yesterday was the result of a suicide truck bomber, who drove his truck into the Iraqi Finance Ministry in the northern part of the city. At least 28 people died in that blast, with over 100 more wounded. Very shortly thereafter, a truck bomb exploded near the Foreign Ministry, leaving a 30 foot by 15 foot crater and killing 59 people while wounding over 250 more.