Marketplace Bombings Take Over 100 Lives

Today, 3/29/07 on Thursday was a grueling day for Iraqi civilians. A shocking 119 deaths tolled today from marketplace bombings by insurgents, and wounding roughly 171 others.

All the victims were innocent civilians simply doing some shopping before Friday, which is the Muslim holy day. Being as crowded as they were, the marketplaces were prime targets for suicide and car bombings.

The deadliest of the attacks took place in a Shiite marketplace amidst Baghdad, from a single suicide bomber with explosives strapped onto a vest he was wearing. This happened to be the most brutal attacks, and CNN.com reports survivors witnessing heads and other appendages blown off of bodies, and pure carnage. The attack on the Baghdad market place killed what is thought to be at least 76 people and wounding 85.

Earlier this morning, in the town of Khalis sighted the first of the deadly marketplace bombings. The death toll here was 43 and 86 wounded. All of the victims were civilians simply doing their shopping for the weekend. Two cars exploded almost back-to-back, and a third went off right after security entered the area.

Reuters reports the Iraqi prime minister calling on the people of Iraq to "cooperate with the Iraqi security forces to purge Iraq from terrorists and criminals." Which apparently he said with the strength of courage and hope, as the capital was attacked today as well as Iraqi officials found 25 bodies full of bullets strewn about the grounds.

The head of traffic police had an assassination attempt made on him by insurgents. Several of his guards were killed and others wounded, but he fortunately survived.

Reuters and CNN report numerous other bombings and killings around the country today as well. A car bomb trap killed four police officers and wounded others, in a town called Amil. The car had a body in it, which was thought to be purposefully placed there by terrorists to lure the men into the trap.

In other Iraq news, Ryan Crocker said today, as he was sworn in as the new U.S. ambassador to Iraq, "We have a historic challenge ahead of us; terrorists, insurgents and militias continue to threaten security in Baghdad and around the country. Security is without question the central issue," reports CNN and Reuters.

The situation in Iraq is without question escalading and the fears of military officials are being proven as suicide bombings become more frequent and the death toll of innocent Iraqi civilians, U.S. soldiers, and coalition forces increase by the day.

CNN, "Market bombs kill 119 across Iraq". CNN.com. URL:(http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/03/29/iraq.main/index.html)