Iraq's al-Qaida claims responsibility for deadly attacks April 20, 2012 - 12:04 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iraq's al-Qaida branch has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks that killed dozens in Baghdad and across the country the day before, The Associated Press reported. The Islamic State of Iraq says it targeted security forces and government officials in "response to the campaign of detaining, torture, embargo and confiscation of lands of Sunni people, especially in Baghdad and its outskirts." The claim was posted on militant websites early Friday. Al-Qaida says the Thursday morning wave of attacks that struck 10 cities across Iraq, killing at least 30 and wounding 117 people, is just the beginning of what will be a prolonged series of attacks. Al-Qaida and other Sunni militants have stepped up attacks on Shiites, raising concern of a new surge in sectarian violence. Partner news  Top stories Among its provisions are bans on child marriage and the traditional practice of selling and buying women to settle disputes. Jorge Rafael Videla, an austere former army commander, led Argentina during the bloodiest days of its Dirty War dictatorship. According to the United Nations, April was Iraq's bloodiest month for almost five years, with 712 people killed. Reports suggest the rebel fighters may have tried to blow up the walls of the prison, which holds some 4,000 inmates.   Partner news |  Latest news Brad Pitt’s “World War Z” to open Moscow Film Fest  The fest will feature retrospectives of films by Bernardo Bertolucci and Costa Gavras, as well as a program devoted to Dutch cinema.Wrekin Hill picks up John Malkovich’s “Siberian Education” Based on the novel by Nicolai Lilin, the film is set in the ghetto of Soviet Russia and follows 2 boys who are members of a gang of exiled Siberians.EU says concerned over human rights record in Russia The European Union said it would closely watch developments affecting non-governmental organizations in Russia.John Lennon’s guitar auctioned for $408,000 The custom-made instrument, built in 1966 by the VOX company, was bought by an unidentified U.S. buyer in New York. |
