Baghdad bombs kill 36, Chemical Ali hanged
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Suicide bombers attacked three hotels used by foreigners in the heart of Baghdad on Monday, killing at least 36 people and raising questions about government pledges to keep Iraqis safe before a March election. The hanging of Ali Hassan al-Majeed for crimes against humanity was a high-profile step in the Shi''ite-led government''s prosecution of Saddam''s Sunni-dominated regime and was likely to fan controversy six weeks before the March 7 parliamentary poll. The latest in a series of major attacks in Baghdad could be a political setback for Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who has built his reputation on pulling Iraq out of war. The ballot will be held as Iraq emerges from the sectarian slaughter unleashed by the 2003 U.S. invasion and begins to sign multibillion-deals with global oil firms it hopes will usher in a new era of stability and prosperity. It was unclear whether the hanging of Majeed, a cousin of Saddam, took place before or after Monday''s three separate suicide bombings, which went off within minutes of one another, shattering a seven-week lull in major attacks. The bombs mirrored a series of coordinated assaults since August on what should be well-protected targets such as government ministries. The first blast occurred near an entrance of the Ishtar Sheraton hotel, a Baghdad landmark on the eastern side of the Tigris River that has been attacked before. The shock wave blew open doors, smashed windows and sent thick dust swirling into the Reuters offices nearby. A giant cloud of debris rose from the blast site as ambulances and fire trucks rushed to the scene. Helicopters buzzed overhead and soldiers blocked off entry. Towering concrete blastwalls protecting the hotel along the Abu Nawas riverside boulevard fell like dominoes. The building has not been a regular hotel for years, largely housing company offices and some media organizations. But some adventurous international tour groups began using it last year. HOUSES DESTROYED |