[September 19 2010]
Two car bombs exploded in Baghdad today, killing at least 31 people, breaking what has been a period of relative calm since the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.The biggest blasts in the Iraqi capital in a month occurred as commuters were starting their work week, underlining the challenges facing Iraqi security officials in stabilizing Baghdad as the U.S. forces end combat operations and Iraqs police and military assume responsibility for protecting the capital.
At least 10 people were killed when a car bomb exploded in western Baghdads affluent Mansour neighborhood, Army Brig. Gen. Ali Fadhal who is responsible for the western half of the city. He said another 10 were wounded in the attack, and security officials are investigating whether it was the work of a suicide car bomb targeting a crowded commercial area near an AsiaCell store, one of Iraqs biggest mobile phone providers.
The blast sheered off large sections of the concrete walls from the surrounding buildings, and chunks of rubble were strewn around the street. Dozens of Iraqi army and police officers surrounded the area, keeping journalists at bay. An eyewitness, working in an office near the blast site said he heard a huge explosion that shattered