70 killed in Iraq car bombing and suicide attack

CAR bombs and a suicide attacker struck crowded areas in Baghdad and former insurgent strongholds to the north and west of the capital yesterday, killing more than 70 people and breaking a recent lull in violence in the predominantly Sunni areas.

The attacks were a deadly reminder of the threat posed by suspected Sunni insurgents even as clashes between Shiite militia fighters and US-Iraqi forces continued elsewhere.

The first blast occurred in Baqouba, 50km north-east of Baghdad, when a car parked in front of a restaurant exploded just before noon across the street from the central courthouse and other government offices.