Blasts in Iraq leave over 100 dead

More than 100 Iraqis were killed in a series of explosions in and around Baghdad, including at least 60 in twin bomb blasts at a public market, news broadcaster al-Arabiya reported.

Witnesses reported countless injured being transported in ambulances after the twin attacks in the Shia Shaab district of Baghdad on Thursday.

The explosion came shortly after at least 37 people were killed and over 70 were injured in a bomb attack in the eastern Shia town of Khalis, about 62 km east of Baghdad, according to Iraqi security officials.

Ten people were killed in a car bomb blast near a mosque in Mahmudiya, some 30 km from the capital, witnesses said.

Further, two separate car bomb attacks killed around five people and wounded 20 in southern Baghdad, one in Bayaa district and another near a gas station in Amel district, the Voices of Iraq news agency reported.

In Mosul, a senior leader of the Al-Qaeda terrorist network in Iraq was captured by Iraqi army forces.

Abdul Karim al-Baz, alias Abu al-Hareth, was arrested in a house in Nahrawan, south-west of Mosul, 400 km north of Baghdad, an informed source said.

Meanwhile, US-led coalition forces killed four terrorist suspects and detained 15 during operations on Thursday, the US military reported.

During an operation in Baghdad, coalition forces arrested nine suspected terrorists allegedly involved with the Al-Qaeda network.

Suspects were also arrested near Haditha, 220 km north-west of Baghdad, and Fallujah, 50 km from Baghdad.

First Published: Mar 30, 2007 12:11 IST