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Dozens Killed in Spate of Bombings in Baghdad


Smoke rises from the site of a bomb attack near Khullani Square in Baghdad, Feb. 5, 2014.
Smoke rises from the site of a bomb attack near Khullani Square in Baghdad, Feb. 5, 2014.
Multiple bombs have exploded in Iraq's capital, killing at least 34 people and wounding more than 30 others.

The blasts Wednesday struck near Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, including two car bombs that blew up outside the Foreign Ministry.

A suicide bomber also set off an explosion at a restaurant in the area, while another bomb struck Khilani Square in central Baghdad.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, but coordinated bombings are often attributed to Iraq's al-Qaida affiliate.

Iraq is experiencing its worst unrest since 2008 when the country was emerging from a period of sectarian warfare between the country's Sunnis and Shi'ites.

The violence killed 1,000 people last month, and nearly 9,000 last year.


In addition to frequent bombings in Baghdad, the government has been battling for a month to regain control in parts of western Anbar province from al-Qaida-linked militants.

The United States, which withdrew its troops from Iraq in 2011, is supplying the government with missiles and drones to help with the fight.

The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee is holding a hearing Wednesday to discuss al-Qaida's resurgence in Iraq and the threat to Middle East and global security.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters news agency.
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