25 Killed in Baghdad Market Bombing

A car bomb detonated in a crowded Baghdad outdoor market Tuesday morning, killing 25 people and injuring at least 60 more, according to the Associated Press. The blast occurred despite measures to end the violence.

According to reports from the Associated Press, buildings nearby were badly damaged and on fire. Some were reduced to nothing more than rubble. People were running with pots and buckets of water trying to douse the flames. Others were digging frantically through the rubble to find any survivors. Men could be seen carrying tarp-covered bodies out of the wreckage.

The Associated Press quoted Fadhil Hussein as saying, "There were four women around my stall when we heard a loud explosion, which threw me many meters away from my stall. I found myself in a pickup truck with other people. Some of them were bleeding and yelling." Hussein is a spice merchant in the market. He suffered from shrapnel wounds to his head and back.

Sami Hussein and her five year old son were headed to the market when the parked car exploded. She told the Associated Press that she saw "grey and black smoke". The blast knocked her to the ground. Suffering from shrapnel wounds on her face and legs, she lost her son in the explosion and had no idea of his state of being. Associated Press reported medical officials from the hospital said her son was killed in the blast.

U.S. and Iraqi troops are running a security operation designed to flush out insurgents. They are trying to restore order in Baghdad. The deadly attacks are still continuing to target civilians and police officers.

According to the Associated Press sources, U.S. military officials say that military insurgent groups are retaliating to this operation by increasing the attacks. A bombing two weeks ago left 30 people dead and 80 others injured. The result of another market bombing in the Baiyaa district.

Moments before the Amil bombing, today, gunmen were reported to have drove into the Khadra neighborhood. Using two cars, they ambushed 3 plainclothes officers who were from the major crime unit. Two of the officers were killed. One injured.

The Associated Press reported there were several other incidents Tuesday morning which resulted in even more casualties. The police and Iraqi security officers are the ones being targeted the most.

It was told to reporters on Monday, by an undisclosed source, that Bush's administration is considering it's support of Iraqi leaders. The administration wants Iraq to make major reforms by fall. Associated Press also reported that two Iraqi officials, remaining nameless, disclosed Bush's conversation with Prime Minister al-Maliki. They said Bush warned al-Maliki that the U.S. wanted to see "tangible results quickly" concerning the oil bill and other legislation. These officials were not to disclose this information.

Source: Ravi Nessman, Associated Press writer; car bombing in Baghdad market kills 25