Two car bomb attacks in Baghdad

Two Car bomb attacks in Baghdad

The Iraqi authorities said the attackers were suicide bombers, their vehicles were driven into parking bays and detonated. A number of workers for Baghdad's provincial council, which runs the city, were thought to be among the dead.

A number of people have blamed the security forces and politicians for failing to keep order, and for this Baghdad provincial council member Mohammed al-Rubaiey said: "This is a political struggle... Every politician is responsible and the government is responsible, as well as security leaders."

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The attacks have drawn comparison with those of 19 August, when truck bombs hit two ministry buildings and killed at least 100 people. The blasts hit the ministry of justice and a provincial government office near the heavily fortified Green Zone. They came in quick succes

sion during the morning rush hour as people headed to work.

Prime Minister Nouri Maliki visited the site of Sunday's provincial government office attack near Haifa Street and later issued a statement blaming al-Qaeda and supporters of former president Saddam Hussein.

Mr. Obama said the attacks were an attempt to derail the peace process.