56 dead in Iraq bombings on eve of anniversary of US-led invasion

The attacks, mostly car bombs, targeted small restaurants, day labourers and bus stops in the Iraqi capital and nearby towns over a period of more than two hours.

The bombings came 10 years to the day that Washington announced the start of the invasion on March 19, 2003 – though by that time it was already the following morning in Iraq.

While violence has ebbed since its peak in 2006 and 2007, the latest attacks show that insurgents remain a potent threat to Iraq’s security forces and long-term stability. One of the deadliest of yesterday’s attacks struck close to one of the main gates to the heavily-fortified Green Zone, which houses major government offices and the embassies of several countries, including the United States and Britain.

That blast, outside a restaurant, killed six people, including two soldiers, and wounded more than 15. Thick black smoke could be seen rising from the area as ambulances raced to the scene.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blasts, but the attacks bore the hallmarks of al Qaida in Iraq. The terror group favours co-ordinated bombings intended to undermine public confidence in the Shiite-led government.

The most deadly car bombing was near the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, killing seven people and wounding 21.