Iraqi Shiites and Sunnis Killed in Separate Bombings
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iStockphoto/Thinkstock(BAGHDAD) — Neither Shiites nor Sunnis were spared deadly attacks in Iraq Sunday, coming on the second day of the holy month of Ramadan.
Overall, violence has been on the wane in Iraq more than six months after all U.S. military forces withdrew from the country.
However, Sunday’s attacks could give ammunition to those who worry that Iraq could again descend into sectarian warfare that nearly tore the country apart from 2005-2007, given that one side will blame the other for Sunday’s assaults.
Most of the Shiite fatalities occurred in Baghdad’s southern outskirts around sundown when a bomb blew up in a crowded marketplace. Overall, 25 Shiites died in attacks launched in Baghdad and the central city of Najaf, with dozens more wounded.
Later in the day, two Sunni towns were targeted with bombings by insurgents, leaving at least 18 people dead and over 50 injured in what some speculate were in retaliation for the strikes against Shiites.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio