Children killed as Iraqi police homes bombed

A series of bombs targeting the homes of Iraqi police officers has killed two children and wounded nine other people.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Jan 2012, 06:00 BST

A total of six explosions were caused by roadside bombs planted near houses belonging to security officers in Baqouba as their families were sleeping. The city, 35 miles from Baghdad, is a former al-Qaida stronghold.

Iraq has warned of a resurgence of Sunni and Shiite militants and an increase in violence following the US troop withdrawal, which ended last month.

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The latest violence comes amid a growing political crisis that erupted after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government issued an arrest warrant for the country’s top Sunni politician last month.

Mr al-Maliki’s main political rivals, the Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc, is boycotting parliament sessions and cabinet meetings in protest at what they say are efforts by the Shiite-led government to consolidate power and marginalise them.