Compromise sought after Baghdad bombs kill 43

Iraqi politicians tried to reach compromises with Sunni Arab leaders today in the country’s draft constitution, one day after synchronised bombings at a bus station and nearby hospital killed up to 43 people in the capital Baghdad.

Government officials today said the bombings – two believed to have been suicide attacks and the third a stationary car bomb – were an attempt to target Shiites and stoke civil war between religious groups in the country.

“They targeted an area that has a population of people from southern Shiite provinces, and their message was that their government is unable to protect you from us,” said government spokesman Laith Kubba.

Kubba said flyers had recently been handed out in some Baghdad neighbourhoods threatening Shiites if they did not leave the city.

Kubba also said four suspects arrested on suspicion of being involved in the attacks had been released after questioning. As the constitutional talks began, one Sunni Arab politician expressed confidence that remaining differences would be resolved in time for the Monday deadline.