Scores killed in Baghdad explosion

Press TV, Tuesday, 17 August, 2010, 05:57:10 GMT

A strong bomb explosion has stricken a crowded Iraqi army recruitment center in the capital Baghdad, leaving at least 59 people dead.

The blast occurred at around 7:30 a.m. (0430 GMT) on Tuesday when a bomber wearing an explosive-laden vest blew himself up in the Baab al-Muatham neighborhood of central Baghdad.

The victims were mostly Iraqi army forces targeted by the explosion that also wounded at least 100 other people.

The blast took place near where the ministries of defense and health are located.

Iraqi security forces and defense ministry guards were deployed to the area as ambulances and helicopters rushed to the scene to deliver the injured to nearby hospitals.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the blast but an investigation was immediately underway to find those behind the deadly attack.

The interior ministry condemned the bombing attack as aimed at destabilizing the war-torn country and undermining people's confidence in Iraqi security forces.

MRS/MRS

48 dead, 129 injured the new toll of Baghdad’s suicide bombing

August 17, 2010 - 10:30:56

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq:

Forty-eight dead and 129 injured is the new toll of casualties that fell in the suicide bombing in central Baghdad earlier Tuesday, according to a security source.

But the Baghdad Operations Command (BOC) said that 37 people were killed and 57 others wounded in this suicide bombing.

“It was the last day for recruitment in a recruitment centre in Baghdad, and the bomber blew himself up among the big numbers of people who gathered for recruitment,” Gen. Qassim Atta, the official spokesperson of the Baghdad Operations Command told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

Earlier, another security source said that a suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest blew himself up on Tuesday near an Iraqi army recruiting center in Baghdad, killing 30 and wounding 102 others.

MH (P)/SR

US Soldier killed during patrol in northern Iraq

August 17, 2010 - 08:28:18

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq:

One United States Forces - Iraq Soldier was killed when a U.S. patrol was attacked in Baaquba, Diala province on August 16, 2010, the MNF said on Tuesday.

“The name of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin and release by the Department of Defense,” the MNF said in a release posted on-line.

“The incident is under investigation,” it added.

With the death of this soldier, the toll of U.S. casualties in Iraq since the beginning of operations in March 2003 has reached 4,415. The tool of casualties in 2010 has been 45.

MH (P)/SR

65 قتيلا ونحو 160 جريحا حصيلة التفجير الذي استهدف مركزا للتطوع في بغداد 2010-08-17  12:09:17 AM     INA Report 65 Killed and 160 Injured جاء في حصيلة جديدة ان 65 شخصا قتلوا نتيجة التفجير الذي استهدف مركزا للتطوع في بغداد مصدر طبي قال  أن حصيلة التفجير الذي استهدف مركزاً للتطوع بالقرب من مبنى وزارة الدفاع القديمة وسط بغداد، صباح اليوم، ارتفعت إلى اكثر من 220 شخصاً بين قتيل وجريح. وقال  إن حصيلة التفجير الانتحاري الذي ضرب، قرابة الساعة السابعة من صباح اليوم الثلاثاء، مركزاً للتطوع تابعا للجيش قرب مبنى وزارة الدفاع القديم في ساحة الميدان بمنطقة باب المعظم ارتفعت إلى  65 قتيلاً ونحو 165 جريحاً وتوقع المصدر  أن ترتفع حصيلة القتلى بسبب بعض الإصابات الخطرة، مشيراً إلى أنه تم نقل عدد من المصابين إلى مستشفى الجملة العصبية لخطورة حالتهم الصحية. وكان مصدر اعلامي ذكر في وقت سابق من اليوم، أن انتحاريا يرتدي حزاما ناسفا استهدف قرابة الساعة السابعة من صباح اليوم الثلاثاء، مركزا للتطوع تابع للجيش قرب مبنى وزارة الدفاع القديم في ساحة الميدان بمنطقة باب المعظم، مبينا أن التفجير أسفر عن مقتل 56 شخصاً من المتطوعين وإصابة أكثر من مائة آخرين". فيما أعلن قاسم عطا  إن 39 شخصاًَ قتلوا وأصيب 57 آخرون استناداً لمعلومات وزارة الصحة في حصيلة التفجير الانتحاري الأولية الذي استهدف المركز.