"The explosion has hallmarks of al-Qaeda which wants to show that Iraq cannot keep security after the US withdrawal,"

[yota691]

Iraqi government links Baghdad bombings and Hashemi issue

22/12/2011 15:49

Baghdad, Dec. 22 (AKnews) - The Iraqi government headed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has pointed out the elephant in the room: the horrific bombing attack on Baghdad today is linked to the Monday indictment of Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi on terrorism charges.

Maliki's regime says political parties are using the events today in the nation's capital to put pressure on the government to negotiate a solution to the political crisis.

The Iraqi capital Baghdad was rocked a series of coordinated blasts that struck different areas came in conjunction with the political turmoil.

The Health Ministry said the blasts left at least 59 dead and 179 wounded.

Maliki also sacked his deputy, Saleh al-Mutlaq, who is also a senior in the Iraqiya list.

The Prime Minister's advisor Mariam al-Rayyes told AKnews: "The government will investigate all cases and will not accept shedding of Iraqi blood by political parties."

The Iraqi government said it will investigate allegations that Rafie al-Issawi, the finance minister and a senior Irqaiya List politician, has supported militant groups in Falluja city.

The Prime Minister threatened on Wednesday to replace eight ministers belonging to Iraqiya List if they continued to boycott the government, hinting he would form a government of Shiite parties rather than the broad coalition tht has been in power for the last year.

Although the government hinted that political parties are behind today's bombings the Security and Defense committee ruled this out and accused Sunni terrorist group al-Qaeda of being behind it.

Defense Committee member Hassan Jihad told AKnews that these explosions were expected since there are gaps in security. "The explosion has hallmarks of al-Qaeda which wants to show that Iraq cannot keep security after the US withdrawal," he said. "It is surprising that the explosions came with a political crisis that exists today in the country and this raises many questions."

"There is a weakness in the intelligence agencies and security plans and al-Qaeda is still active in Iraq. It can manage such attacks and penetrate the security services," Jihad added.

By Mouhammed al-Tayyeb and Yazn al-Shummarihttp://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/279839/

[Sanssouci]

"The explosion has hallmarks of al-Qaeda...

Completely damning and yet completely empty.