50 Iraqis killed , 291 injured in Sader city
Iraq on Sunday witnessed a new bloody day resulted in killed and injuring scores. This was in one of the fiercest attacks in which at least 50 persons were killed and other 291 injured in explosions of several booby trapped cars, simultaneously in the markets of al-Sader city east of Baghdad.
This was announced in a statement made to al-Jazeera TV by the chairman of the social commission in al-Shaheed al-Sader office Hazem al-Araji, quoting medical sources.
Al-Araji said that number of killings may increase because of the critical health conditions of several wounded, holding the groups of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Baathists and "the occupation forces" responsible for these attacks.
However, sources at the Iraqi ministry of interior indicated the killing of 46 persons and injuring other 204 in blowing up of 6 cars in al-Sader city, while the security forces were able to defuse a fourth booby trapped car. These explosions also inflected damages in the surrounding buildings and cars.
Also other 20 persons were killed and scores injured in a series of attacks in Baghdad and the areas of Baqouba, al-Mahmoudeyah and al-Dalou'eya, including the killing of 6 persons and injuring of other 14 in a bomb explosion targeting one American vehicle near Um al-Touboul mosque west of the capital.
The Iraqi ministry of interior said that three persons were also killed in al-Baya quarters south of Baghdad after gunmen opened fire at them. Two civilians were killed and other 6 injured when one mortar shelling fell in al-Allawi area in the downtown of the capital.
The police found 14 unidentified bodies with tightened hands in various areas of Baghdad including 8 in al-Rostomeyah area west of Baghdad.
On the other hand, the general command of the joint forces which includes the Iraqi army and the coalition forces led by the USA announced on Sunday the detention of more than 100 suspects and other 4 persons described them as terrorists during the past 24 hours in al-Hella, Musil, Baghdad and Ramadi.
Amid these developments, the Iraqi police in Karabal city announced taking tough security measures on the 40th of Imam al-Hussein remembrance. This measure was to avoid the occurrence of attacks while celebrating the anniversary. Celebrations that reach its peak on March 21st.