Atlas
06-20-2009, 12:35 PM
Maybe not the best time to withdrawal Mr Obama ?
BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8110807.stm)
'Many dead' in Iraq truck bombing
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45667000/gif/_45667843_iraq_kirk_226.gif
At least 25 people have been killed by a suicide truck bomb attack in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, Iraqi police say.
About 150 others were injured in the blast, which happened near a Shia mosque, officials said.
At least a dozen nearby homes were flattened by the explosion.
The latest attack comes days before US forces are due to withdraw from towns and cities in Iraq, leading to concerns that violence could escalate.
The attack happened as worshippers were leaving the packed Al-Rasoul mosque after midday prayers.
An AFP reporter at the scene said the force of the blast left a deep crater in the ground.
Scores of people were injured in the blast, which brought down buildings
Victims were ferried to Kirkuk's main Azadi Hospital, where there were chaotic scenes as bloodied casualties, including children, were rushed into wards.
Kirkuk, about 250km (155 miles) from Baghdad, was the scene of two suicide bombings last month, in which 14 people were killed.
The city is the centre of northern Iraq's oil industry, and home to a volatile mix of Kurds, Arabs and members of the Turkmen community.
The US plans to withdraw its troops from Iraqi cities and major towns by 30 June, and is due to end combat operations across Iraq by September 2010, leaving Iraqi security forces to cope alone.
There are concerns that insurgents may try to take advantage of the withdrawal, although the country's leaders say Iraqi forces are capable of handling internal security without US support.
BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8110807.stm)
'Many dead' in Iraq truck bombing
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45667000/gif/_45667843_iraq_kirk_226.gif
At least 25 people have been killed by a suicide truck bomb attack in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, Iraqi police say.
About 150 others were injured in the blast, which happened near a Shia mosque, officials said.
At least a dozen nearby homes were flattened by the explosion.
The latest attack comes days before US forces are due to withdraw from towns and cities in Iraq, leading to concerns that violence could escalate.
The attack happened as worshippers were leaving the packed Al-Rasoul mosque after midday prayers.
An AFP reporter at the scene said the force of the blast left a deep crater in the ground.
Scores of people were injured in the blast, which brought down buildings
Victims were ferried to Kirkuk's main Azadi Hospital, where there were chaotic scenes as bloodied casualties, including children, were rushed into wards.
Kirkuk, about 250km (155 miles) from Baghdad, was the scene of two suicide bombings last month, in which 14 people were killed.
The city is the centre of northern Iraq's oil industry, and home to a volatile mix of Kurds, Arabs and members of the Turkmen community.
The US plans to withdraw its troops from Iraqi cities and major towns by 30 June, and is due to end combat operations across Iraq by September 2010, leaving Iraqi security forces to cope alone.
There are concerns that insurgents may try to take advantage of the withdrawal, although the country's leaders say Iraqi forces are capable of handling internal security without US support.