Blast in
popular Baghdad coffee shop kills at least 27
Bomb exploded on a
popular coffee shop in western Baghdad, killing at least 27 people and wounding
51 others, city police officials said. The bomb was hidden in a plastic
bag and then put in a cafe in the Iraqi capital's al-Amriya neighborhood, where
it detonated around 10 p.m. (3 p.m. ET), according to police. They estimated
the device contained about two kilograms of highly explosive material. The
explosion ripped through the three-story building, which also includes an ice
cream parlor on the first floor and medical offices on the second floor. The
coffee shop was on the third floor. Most of those killed and hurt were young
men, though four children were among the dead, police said. Mostly Sunni
Muslims live in the neighborhood, which is surrounded by walls except for one
checkpoint staffed by Iraqi soldiers. The violence follows a spate of attacks
preceding the country's provincial elections, set for Saturday. On Wednesday,
three people died and 16 were wounded in four explosions in and around Baghdad,
according to police. There is concern that the security situation could affect
the outcome of the vote, especially if Iraqis don't participate because of
fears that polling stations may come under attack.U.N. official Martin Kobler
appealed Thursday for security forces to be on "heightened alert" so
that citizens can vote "in a safe environment without fear of violence.”
IN the same statement, Kobler -- the special representative in Iraq for the
U.N. secretary-general -- stressed that Iraqi leaders must "collectively
endure a transparent and peaceful election, free of intimidation or political interference.”
And he urged Iraqis to vote, casting it as their patriotic duty. “I am calling
on all women and men to cast their ballots for a better future for them and
their children," Kobler said. "My appeal goes particularly to young
Iraqis, because you are the future of this country."
http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/18/world/meast/iraq-violence/index.html?hpt=wo_c2
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