Al Qaeda strikes in Baghdad, 49 die

At least five bombs ripped through apartment buildings across Baghdad on Tuesday and another struck a market, killing 49 people and wounding more than 160, authorities said. Iraqi officials blamed al-Qaida in Iraq insurgents for the violence the latest sign the country's fragile security is dissolving in the chaos of the unresolved election.

At least seven bombs ripped through apartment buildings across Baghdad on Tuesday and another struck a market, killing 49 people and wounding more than 160, authorities said.

HT Image

Iraqi officials blamed Al Qaeda in Iraq insurgents for the violence — the latest sign the country’s fragile security is dissolving in the chaos of the unresolved election. It was the fourth set of attacks with multiple casualties across Iraq in five days, a spate of violence that has claimed more than 100 lives.

Attacks have spiked as political leaders scramble to secure enough support to form a government after the March 7 elections failed to produce a clear winner. Ayad Allawi, whose bloc came out ahead in the vote by two seats over Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s, said the political deadlock is behind the new violence.