BAGHDAD, June 14, 2008
Suicide Bomber Strikes Iraqi Soccer Fans
Explosion Wounds 34 Celebrating Nation's Win In World Cup Qualifier Match
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Iraqi soccer fans wave their country's flag as they celebrate Iraq's win over China in the Asia 2010 World Cup qualifying match in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, 100 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq, June 14, 2008. (AP Photo/Alaa al-Marjani)
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Photo Essay Week In Iraq Photos A daily diary with scenes of the latest attacks and snapshots from the effort to rebuild a nation.
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Interactive Iraq: 5 Years At War Five years after the U.S.-led invasion, the war wears on.
The young woman, who was covered in a traditional black Islamic robe, was dropped off by a car shortly before the attack as dozens of cheering young men poured out onto the streets after watching Iraq beat China 2-1 on television in the cafe in the town of Qara Tappah.
The woman told suspicious police that she was waiting for her husband but blew herself up after an officer spotted the detonator and began screaming at the crowd to disperse, according to the town's top administrator, Serwan Shukir.
Seven police and 27 civilians were among the wounded, Shukir said, but the officer's warning had averted a higher casualty toll by preventing the woman from reaching the bulk of the fans.
Police Capt. Najib Khourshid said she was about 20 yards away from the crowd when the blast occurred.
"About 100 people were in the cafe and we went out to celebrate the victory after the match. Minutes later, a big explosion took place near us," said Salman Hameed, who was wounded in his chest and right hand. "The female bomber has spoiled our joy and celebration."
Hameed, a Sunni Arab, said five of his Kurdish and Turkomen friends also were wounded in the attack.
Qara Tappah is a mainly Kurdish and Shiite Turkomen city, about 75 miles northeast of Baghdad in the volatile Diyala province. The attack followed warnings by U.S. officials that al Qaeda in Iraq is increasing efforts to recruit women as suicide attackers in a bid to subvert stepped up security measures, particularly in Diyala.
In Other Developments:
The Iraqi national security council met Saturday and expressed support for al-Maliki's management of the talks, according to a government statement. The expression of support by the council, which includes representatives from all major political blocs, appeared to be aimed at showing the U.S. and the Iraqi public that the political establishment was united in its opposition to U.S. demands.
The pamphlets urged residents to provide information about "the hideouts of outlaws" and warned them to stay indoors when the new operation dubbed "Imposing Law" starts, two local police officers said on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to release information to the media.
Iraqi soldiers accompanied by American military advisers have begun moving into Amarah, capital of Maysan province and the purported hub of weapons smuggling from nearby Iran.
U.S. and Iraqi commanders also say many militia chiefs have fled to Amarah - a longtime safe haven for anti-U.S. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia - and Iran after security operations against them in Basra and Baghdad's Sadr City district.
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Add a Comment See all 12 Comments
- And I thought that I was the only person that thinks soccer sucks.
- Reply to this comment
- This kind of behavior will stop when the locals decide they are not going to put up with it anymore.
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re: "Al Ciada at work"
"wohooooo"
Posted by kretos
This attack does seem to have all the hallmarks.- Reply to this comment
- Al Ciada at work
wohooooo - Reply to this comment
- Allah will be upset that he got no new human sacrifices.
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- I have an idea that would provide stability and peace throughout Iraq. This will be done by being able to identify suicide bombers immediately.
1st. No more traditional dress this may just be temporary.
2nd. Men and women are to wear mesh see thru t-shirts. The women will wear bras underneath of course. Both men and women will wear shorts made from lycra or spandex.
Doing so we will eliminate anyplace on the human body to hide explosives on the outside. - Reply to this comment
- Posted by trracymorgan at 07:14 PM
Is that the same person who says that your the child of a motherless dog? - Reply to this comment
- Let''s not forget, George Bush and his cohorts lied to the American people to get this war. Fact is, we shouldn''t be there imposing the great American way on these people. They were as duped as you were.
- Reply to this comment
- Iraq beat China 2-1, OMG.
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- Obama says there is no real terrorist threat in Iraq. That Obama says there is no real terrorist threat in Iraq. That suicide bomber was just a disgruntled fan.
Posted by trracymorgan
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Thanks for that sweetie, Tracy.
I thought the suicide bomber was just bitter. - Reply to this comment
- What do expect from the world of robots.Iraq people have seen through the gate an are proceeding with freedoms never enjoyed,The Clerics are panicking as they see there domination evaporate before there eyes and they cry,everyone will soon throw the chains off, from centuries of brainwashing and control,the people are realizing the World is not flat like they have been programmed to believe .Time to get the foolish,black outfits to the fire, girls.
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- Yea get in there!!
Come on Iraq!!! - Reply to this comment
