IRAQ: Baghdad governor blames negligent soldiers for recent suicide attacks (Clean Video)

Record ID: 352633

  • Title: IRAQ: Baghdad governor blames negligent soldiers for recent suicide attacks (Clean Video)
  • Date: 28th October 2009
  • Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (OCTOBER 27, 2009) (REUTERS) BAGHDAD GOVERNOR SALAH ABDULRAZZAQ ATTENDING NEWS CONFERENCE/ AUDIENCE BAGHDAD GOVERNOR SALAH ABDULRAZZAQ SAYING (VOICE OVER VIDEO FOOTAGE SHOWING BLAST SCENE, CARS ON FIRE PEOPLE RUNNING AWAY): "A Hino vehicle driving from this side, changing its direction when it saw a checkpoint. Our people (the security forces) suspected a b
  • Embargoed: 12th November 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA9PYR6XJJXBORWXB5BLB0GGJM6
  • Story Text: The governor in Baghdad says soldiers should be held to account for the deadliest bombings in the Iraqi capital this year.
    Salah Abdulrazzaq, Baghdad's Governor accused Iraqi security forces on Tuesday (October 27, 2009) of being responsible for the bloodiest bombings that took place near the Justice Ministry and Baghdad provincial government buildings.
    Speaking at a news conference at the headquarters of the city's provincial government, a building which was damaged by a car bomb last Sunday, Governor Salah Abdulrazzaq described the events before the bombings,
    "A Hino vehicle driving from this side, changing its direction when it saw a checkpoint. Our people (the security forces) suspected a bus (red circle on it) and a tanker that was driving on the other side, they (bus and tanker) drive close to each other, behind the concrete slabs and then the blast will take place at 10:28:37. We will see the blast.... This is the blast near the justice ministry and then the arrival of the first team of fire-fighters who arrived three minutes after the blast. This was a great rescue effort and that we thanked them for it.... Here the rescue operation is taking place" said Abdulrazzaq .
    He also said negligent soldiers should be submitted to a court martial.
    "This negligence does not have any justifications. If the blast was caused by a car bomb that came from outside this area, how did it managed to pass so many checkpoints? You (Iraqi soldiers) are asking people to get out of their vehicles even if they are carrying perfume or soap, so how did it (the car bomb) manage to pass?! If it was a collusion, let them (Iraqi soldiers) bear the responsibility. We should resort to a public court -martial and take decisive actions. We should take a decision. We have had enough," he said.
    During the news conference Abdulrazzaq showed video footage of the attacks which had been taken from surveillance cameras.
    Two mini-buses were used in Sunday's attack, circumventing a ban on truck traffic in heavily-policed central Baghdad, said the city's security spokesman Major General Qassim al-Moussawi. Both were driven by suicide bombers from a nearby site, according to aerial images from U.S.-operated airships that hover over the city.
    Around 150 people were killed in the attacks which tore through the area.
    Many Iraqis say they see divisions and in-fighting ahead of Iraq's second post-invasion national vote as the prime source of instability in the world's 11th largest crude oil producer.
    While violence has fallen since Washington sent thousands of extra troops, attacks are common in the politically-divided nation of 30 million people.
    Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told U.S.-funded al-Hurra television that 129 people died. But police sources said the death toll had reached 155.
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