Baghdad Attacks

After the synchronised car bomb attacks which devastated the Iraqi capital Baghdad yesterday killing 112 and injuring hundreds, the Iraqi government has been quick to speculate about who was behind the attacks. “The prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, and his senior officials quickly blamed the devastation on senior Ba’athists living in exile in Syria and an alliance of Islamists and militants. Iraq and Syria have remained at diplomatic loggerheads since the bombings in August. Both countries withdrew their ambassadors after Iraqi officials accused Syria of harbouring enemies who had vowed to direct and fund a bombing campaign in the run-up to a general election, which is scheduled for 6 March. Iraqi officials have offered only scant support for their accusations. However, they appear to fervently believe that Damascus has at least given implicit consent to a subversive campaign that was allegedly plotted on Syrian soil.”