Nine killed in Iraq bomb attacks

A suicide car bomb went off in a crowded market in northern Iraq today, moments after a booby-trapped vehicle exploded, killing at least nine people and injuring 60, police said.

The back-to-back blasts in the oil hub of Kirkuk broke a brief lull in large-scale violence around the country as US and Iraqi forces try to regain control of Baghdad and other key areas from gangs and militias.

It is feared militants have made a tactical retreat to avoid the stepped up pressure and could regroup later.

The attacks in Kirkuk, about 180 miles north of Baghdad, again showed the willingness of extremists to strike busy urban areas for maximum bloodshed.

Shops and a bus depot were filled with people when the first explosion occurred. Minutes later, a suicide car bomber hit the area in a mostly Kurdish district of the city, police said. The blasts also damaged about 20 shops.

At the city’s main hospital, some of the injured were placed on floors after all beds and cots were filled.

Restaurant owner Saman Ahmed was splashed with hot cooking oil as one of blasts hurled him onto the street. He lay on the pavement with burns and a broken leg as people fled amid burning cars and debris.

Kirkuk is a major oil centre with a mixed population of Kurds and Sunni and Shiite Arabs. On February 3, a series of car bombs in the city killed two people and injured 30.

In Baghdad, new checkpoints were set up around the city, creating long traffic jams as vehicles were thoroughly searched. Iraqi tanks pushed into districts that recently were ruled by roaming gunmen and militant groups.

Violence in Baghdad has dropped off sharply since the military push began earlier this week. US military planners, however, have warned that any attempt to stabilise Baghdad could take months and it is likely militants will not leave without a fight.

“We are very optimistic,” said US Embassy spokesman Lou Fintor. Then he quickly added: “Things aren’t going to change overnight.”

Washington has pledged 21,500 additional troops for the operation, which is expected to reach a total of 90,000 US and Iraqi forces.

“I would say that it is way too early to establish any trends,” Lt Col Chris Garver, a US military spokesman, said. “We’ve just started to focus our operations. We have months to go to see if we are going to succeed or not.”

Maj Gen Joseph Fil, commander of US forces in Baghdad, attributed the drop in violence not only to the increased security presence but also to an apparent decision by the militias and insurgents to lay low for a while.

“But make no mistake, we do not believe ... that’s going to continue, and we do expect there are going to be some very rough, difficult days ahead,” Fil said.