Car bomb kills 18 in Iraq, officials sayDecember 9, 2013 - 15:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A car bomb outside a cafe and other attacks in central Iraq killed at least 18 people on Monday, Dec 9, officials said, according to the Associated Press. The car bomb went off outside the cafe in the town of Buhriz, about 60 kilometers (35 miles) north of the capital, Baghdad, killing 12 people and wounding 24, police officials said. In the southwestern suburbs of Baghdad, a roadside bomb hit a car with anti-al Qaeda Sunni fighters, killing two and wounding three, police and hospital officials said. The Sunni militia group, known as the Sahwa, had joined forces with U.S. troops at the height of the Iraq war to fight al Qaeda. Since then, it has been a target for Sunni insurgents, who call its members traitors. Also Monday, a roadside bomb targeted an army patrol just south of the capital, killing one Iraqi soldier and wounded two others. In Baghdad's eastern district of Basmaya, three people were killed and seven were wounded when a bomb struck an outdoor market early in the afternoon, police said. Hospital officials confirmed the casualty figures for all the attacks. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Monday's attacks, but insurgent groups frequently target civilians in cafes and public areas, as well as members of the security forces, in an attempt to undermine confidence in the Shiite-led government and stir up Iraq's already simmering sectarian tensions. Monday's attacks came a day after a series of bombings in and around Baghdad killed at least 39 people. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |