AT LEAST 24 KILLED IN BAGHDAD BOMB BLASTS

Baghdad, 9 Muharram 1436/2 November 2014 (MINA) – At least 24 people have been killed and some 50 others wounded as a bomb blast ripped through the south of Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

The explosion occurred when a truck filled with explosives blew up at a checkpoint near a southern Baghdad district on Saturday.

A separate blast rocked Baghdad’s Palestine Street, the casualties of which are yet to be announced, according to Press TV reports quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA), Sunday.

On October 31, a bomb explosion ripped through a sheep market in Baghdad’s western suburb of Suweib at around noon. Five people died and 13 others were injured in the attack.

Iraqi officials usually blame similar terrorist attacks on Takfiri militants and former Ba’athists who Baghdad says have formed an alliance to destabilize the country.

Baghdad has also pointed the finger at Saudi Arabia, saying Riyadh is funding terrorists operating in Iraq.

The ISIL launched an offensive in June and took control of Iraq’s second largest city, Mosul, before sweeping through much of the country’s Sunni Arab heartland.

Iraq has faced brutal violence at the hands of the ISIL Takfiri terrorists as they have threatened all communities, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians during their advances in the country.

According to the UN’s latest figures, violence in Iraq claimed at least 1,273 lives in October alone. (T/P002/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)