70 killed in coordinated Iraq terror attacks

At least 70 people have been killed in a series of coordinated attacks on security installations across Iraq.

In the worst outrage, 44 people were killed in Mosul when a series car bombs rocked the northern city this morning. More than 200 people are thought to have been injured in the bombings.

Baquba, Fallujah and Ramadi were also hit by a wave of bombings resulting in 22 deaths and injuring dozens of people. In Baquba, two Coalition soldiers were killed and seven wounded when their patrol was ambushed at around about 5:30am local time.

Insurgents attacked the Coalition Forces with small arms, improvised explosive devices, and rocket-propelled grenades.

In response, Coalition aircraft dropped three 500-pound bombs on "insurgent strong points" at about 9am.

Four Iraqi guardsmen were also killed in a bomb blast in Baghdad, it has been reported.

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesperson said that Downing Street condemned the attacks, which seemed to have fitted into the predicted pattern of events in the run-up to 30 June.

Both the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary noted at Cabinet this morning that the attacks had targeted local Iraqis, reflecting the "increasing profile of the new interim administration" and, in particular, the role of Prime Minister Alawi.

The attacks were designed to try to stop the transition of sovereignty next week – but they would not succeed, the spokesperson said.

(gmcg)