Blast in Iraqi Capital Kills 72

By VOA News
24 June 2009

Iraqi soldiers in Baghdad's Sadr City, 24 Jun 2009

Iraqi police say 72 people have been killed in a bomb blast in Baghdad, less than a week before U.S. troops are to withdraw from Iraq's urban areas.

More than 160 people were injured in Wednesday's blast, which tore through a market in the mostly Shi'ite district of Sadr City. Officials say the attacker hid the bomb under a cart of vegetables loaded on a motorcycle.

In other violence, officials say one person was killed and at least 14 wounded in two other attacks in the Iraqi capital.

A U.S. Defense Department spokesman said Wednesday a rise in violence is expected as U.S. combat forces prepare to withdraw from Iraqi cities on June 30. But he noted the overall security climate is good.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has also warned that insurgents are likely to intensify their strikes.

Earlier this week, a series of attacks in Iraq left dozens dead, and a truck bombing last Saturday near Kirkuk killed almost 70 people.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters