Baghdad Bomb Strikes Bakery

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The New York Sun

BAGHDAD – A car bomb struck a bakery crowded with customers lining up for bread, killing at least 11 people today as they ended their daytime Ramadan fast, officials said.

The government, which had hoped for a peaceful holy month to show the success of a 7-month-old security operation, suffered another blow when lawmakers loyal to the anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced their withdrawal from the Shiite bloc in parliament.

That leaves the government of Prime Minister al-Maliki 30 seats short of a majority, although it can likely count on support from independent Shiites who hold 30 seats and some minor parties.

The decision by Mr. al-Sadr’s followers is likely to complicate further American-backed efforts to win parliamentary approval of power-sharing legislation

including the oil bill and an easing of curbs that prevent former Saddam Hussein supporters from getting back their government jobs.

Hospital officials said the 11 killed in the Baghdad explosion included two children. The blast damaged five stores and three houses and burned five cars, according to police.

“We rushed outside the house after hearing the sound of the explosion. I could see the bakery and a nearby pickle shop on fire,” said Abu Ahmed, a 36-year-old Shiite government employee. “The wounded were screaming for help as the ambulances were arriving.”

The bombing occurred at the start of iftar, the meal Muslims eat to break their dawn-to-dusk fast during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.


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