LOC15:41
12:41 GMT
BAGHDAD, April 4 (KUNA) -- The death toll of three car bomb explosions that
shocked Baghdad earlier on Sunday has gone up to 32, an Iraqi security source
said.
Three car bombs hit the centre of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, in quick
succession, leaving 32 killed and at least 160 injured, the source told KUNA.
The attacks, which went off within just a few minutes of each other, appear
to have been aimed at foreign embassies.
Sending plumes of smoke into the sky, the bomb explosions struck near the
Iranian, Egyptian and Syrian embassies in Salehia district, and the German
ambassador's residence in the Mansour district.
Gunshots were heard as ambulances rushed to the scene to pick up the
victims and to take those wounded in the bombings to hospital.
The bombings have already shattered a period of relative calm after last
month's parliamentary elections.
No-one has claimed responsibility for the attacks so far.
There was a similar series of three attacks in January targeting big
hotels. Last year, in August, October and December, much bigger bombs were
detonated close to government buildings, killing hundreds of people. (pickup
previous)
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