Eleven car bombs rocked Baghdad on Tuesday, martyring at least 63 people and wounding another 285 people in the bombings that were targeted at neighborhoods in the Iraqi capital, some exploding near cafes or restaurants.
"Sixty-three people were killed and 285 wounded in 11 car bombings. All of the explosions happened at the same time," an interior ministry official said.
The biggest explosions were in the northern Kadhimiyah and eastern Husseiniyah districts. The interior ministry imposed an immediate curfew on the targeted areas of east Baghdad, over and above the nightly ban on movement in force across the capital from midnight to 5:00 am.
The attacks came just two days after Al-Qaeda gunmen stormed a church in the heart of the city and took dozens of worshippers hostage, with 46 of them killed in a drama that ended with a raid by Iraqi Special Forces.
Washington and London condemned the new bloodshed and attempts to stoke sectarian conflict. "The United States strongly condemns the vicious violence witnessed today," National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer said in a statement. "We have confidence that the people of Iraq will remain steadfast in their rejection of efforts by extremists to spark sectarian tension," Hammer added. "These attacks will not stop Iraq's progress. The United States stands with the people of Iraq and remains committed to our strong and long-term partnership," he said.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a statement: "Those responsible for these barbaric bombings do not care for the future of Iraq and its people. They are intent only on provoking tension and conflict."
"Sixty-three people were killed and 285 wounded in 11 car bombings. All of the explosions happened at the same time," an interior ministry official said.
The biggest explosions were in the northern Kadhimiyah and eastern Husseiniyah districts. The interior ministry imposed an immediate curfew on the targeted areas of east Baghdad, over and above the nightly ban on movement in force across the capital from midnight to 5:00 am.
The attacks came just two days after Al-Qaeda gunmen stormed a church in the heart of the city and took dozens of worshippers hostage, with 46 of them killed in a drama that ended with a raid by Iraqi Special Forces.
Washington and London condemned the new bloodshed and attempts to stoke sectarian conflict. "The United States strongly condemns the vicious violence witnessed today," National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer said in a statement. "We have confidence that the people of Iraq will remain steadfast in their rejection of efforts by extremists to spark sectarian tension," Hammer added. "These attacks will not stop Iraq's progress. The United States stands with the people of Iraq and remains committed to our strong and long-term partnership," he said.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a statement: "Those responsible for these barbaric bombings do not care for the future of Iraq and its people. They are intent only on provoking tension and conflict."
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