47 killed in surge of Iraq violence

KUT: Twin bomb blasts in the southern Iraqi city of Kut killed 34 people on Monday, the worst of a spate of nationwide violence that left 47 dead, just months ahead of a pullout of US forces.

The surge of attacks in 10 cities, which left more than 160 people wounded, raise major questions over the capabilities of Iraq's security forces after the country's leaders agreed to open talks with Washington over a military training mission to last beyond a projected year-end American withdrawal.

The violence was quickly condemned by parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, who blamed security leaders for unspecified "violations."

In Monday's deadliest attack, the bloodiest since July, a roadside bomb in the centre of Kut at 8:00 am (0500 GMT) was followed minutes later by a nearby car bomb, medical and security officials said.

Karama hospital director Jabbar al-Yasiri put the toll at 34 dead and 64 wounded, with both figures including women and children. Security officials cordoned off the site of the attacks in their aftermath.

The violence was the worst in Kut, 160 kilometres (100 miles) south of Baghdad, since August 3, 2010, when two car bombs killed 33 people, and the single deadliest in Iraq since July 5 this year, when twin suicide blasts killed 35 just outside Baghdad.

In Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, meanwhile, three policemen were killed and at least seven others were wounded when two suicide bombers blew up their explosives-packed vests inside the city's anti-terror headquarters. (AFP)