Bomb attacks targeting Shi’ites kill 72 in Iraq

A WAVE of bombings targeting Shi’ites in Iraq have killed 72 people, deepening sectarian tensions that exploded after the last American troops left the country in mid- December.

The coordinated attacks targeting Shi’ites bore the hallmarks of Sunni insurgents linked to al-Qaida, although there was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The bombings began early in the morning when explosions struck two Shi’ite neighbourhoods in Baghdad, killing at least 27 people.