And of course, not a peep out of Hippy & Co, who only shed their 
crocodile tears when its Americans doing the killing.

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Iraqis mourn victims of worst bombing in 2 years


Oct 26, 6:59 AM (ET)




BAGHDAD (AP) - The death toll from Iraq's worst attack in more than two 
years climbed to 155 Monday as Iraqis buried the dead from the twin 
suicide bombings that devastated the heart of Baghdad.

Funerals were held around the city amid heightened security that snarled 
traffic during the morning rush hour. The bombings targeted two 
government buildings, calling into question the state's ability to 
protect itself as it prepares for January elections and the U.S. 
military withdrawal.

"Sadness is overwhelming today in the office," said one government 
employee, who asked that her name not be used because she did not want 
to be reprimanded for speaking publicly about authorities. "It's as if 
we are sitting at a funeral in the office because many of our colleagues 
and people we know were killed."

The attacks targeted the Baghdad Provincial Administration building and 
the Justice Ministry, wounding hundreds of people, including three 
American contractors. Officials revised the number of wounded down to 
about 500 Monday, from 700 the day before. There have been no claims of 
responsibility or arrests so far.

(AP) Family members of a victim who was killed in a suicide bombing 
grieve at his funeral in Baghdad,...
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Baghdad residents, heading for work on Monday expressed concern that 
more such attacks would take place ahead of January's key elections.

"Today, we came to work despite the fear inside us," said Siham 
Abdul-Karim, 49, an employee in the Culture Ministry, located near the 
blasts.

Abdul-Karim said it took him two hours to get to the office since the 
streets around the capital were blocked and intense searches were taking 
place at police checkpoints.

The same checkpoints, however, couldn't stop Sunday's bombings, noted 
Abdul-Karim said. "We all wonder how could car bombs reach these 
institutions."

The initial investigation suggested the vehicles, each packed with 
explosives, might have passed through some security checkpoints before 
hitting their destination, said Maj. Gen. Qassim al-Mousawi, a spokesman 
for the city's operations command center.

(AP) Family members of a victim who was killed in a suicide bombing 
grieve at his funeral in Baghdad,...
Full Image
The pickup truck that exploded near the Justice Ministry was carrying 
2,205 pounds (1,000 kilograms) of explosives, the initial investigation 
found. The second pickup truck that went off near the Baghdad Provincial 
Administration building, was carrying 1,543 pounds (700 kilograms) of 
explosives.

The explosives were attached to the vehicles and hidden below the seats, 
al-Mousawi said.

The bombings showed that insurgents still have the ability to launch 
horrific attacks in the center of the capital even as violence has 
dropped dramatically across the country.

Iraqi health and security officials both confirmed the raised death 
toll. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were 
not authorized to release information to the media.

Massive car bombs have been the hallmark of the Sunni insurgents seeking 
to overthrow the country's Shiite-dominated government. Iraq has accused 
members of the outlawed Baath Party living in neighboring Syria of being 
behind another series of deadly bombings in August that also targeted 
government buildings and killed more than 100 people.

(AP) Family members of a victim who was killed in a suicide bombing 
grieve at his funeral in Baghdad,...
Full Image
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who has staked his political 
reputation and re-election bid on his ability to bring peace to the 
country, blamed Sunday's attacks on al-Qaida and supporters of the 
previous regime of Saddam Hussein.

He pledged to punish those responsible, who he said wanted to "spread 
chaos in the country, undermine the political process and prevent the 
holding of parliamentary elections."

The street where the blasts occurred had just been reopened to vehicle 
traffic six months ago. Shortly after, blast walls were repositioned to 
allow traffic closer to the government buildings - all measures part of 
changes hailed by al-Maliki as a sign that safety was returning to the city.

President Barack Obama, who earlier this week reaffirmed the U.S. 
commitment to withdrawing its troops from the country, called al-Maliki 
on Sunday to offer his condolences.

The coordinated bombings were the deadliest since a series of massive 
truck bombs in northern Iraq killed nearly 500 villagers from the 
minority Yazidi sect in August 2007. In Baghdad itself, it was the worst 
attack since a series of suicide bombings against Shiite neighborhoods 
in April 2007 killed 183.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20091026/D9BIO2201.html