Blasts in Baghdad kill 97 -- china.org.cn

A series of deadly bomb attacks struck Baghdad Wednesday with at least 97 people killed and about 585 others injured, shaping a setback to Iraq's efforts to restore normalcy in the capital after 50 days of US troops pullout of Iraqi cities and towns.

Smoke billows from the scene of a car bomb in front of the foreign ministry in central Baghdad. At least 45 people were killed in a wave of attacks in Baghdad, including two massive truck bombings, on the bloodiest day in the capital for almost two months, health and security officials said

Smoke billows from the scene of a car bomb in front of the foreign ministry in central Baghdad, August 19, 2009. [Xinhua]

The bloodiest attacks occurred when two truck bombs struck the Iraqi Foreign and Finance Ministries before midday, killing a total of 95 people and wounding some 563 others, while more than 150 civilian cars were shattered.

A wounded man leaves the scene of an explosion outside the foreign ministry in central Baghdad. A series of devastating attacks across Baghdad has killed at least 75 people, in the worst day of carnage to hit the Iraqi capital since US troops pulled out of the conflict-hit nation's cities.

A wounded man leaves the scene of an explosion outside the foreign ministry in central Baghdad, August 19, 2009.[Xinhua]

A truck bomb loaded with about two tons of explosives detonated near a parking-lot close to the Foreign Ministry at the edge of the Green Zone in central Baghdad, a source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The powerful blast destroyed several buildings around the street in front of the Foreign Ministry, prompting rescue workers to search under the debris of the buildings.

The facade of the ministry itself was badly damaged and parts of the nearby al-Rasheed Hotel was also damaged. Moreover, some of the windows in the Iraqi parliament inside the Green Zone were smashed.

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