Wire: Suicide Attack Kills 33 Near Baghdad, Violence Up in Iraq

Off the Wire:

Iraq Violence Spikes After Obama Sets Drawdown Timeline

WASHINGTON, March 10, 2009 -- Newswire sources reported a suicide bomber blew himself up near a market at Abu Ghraib just west of Baghdad on Tuesday, killing as many as 33 people in the second major attack in the capital area in two days.

AP said the bombing was part of a spike of violence that comes as the U.S. military begins drawing down its forces.

On Sunday, a suicide attacker killed about 30 people near a police academy in east Baghdad.

AP also reported the high-profile attacks have marred Sunday's announcement by the U.S. military that 12,000 American troops and 4,000 Britons will be withdrawn from the country by September -- the first step in fulfilling President Barack Obama's goal to end America's combat role by 2010.

(Report from commercial media sources.)

Sources:
AP: 33 dead in suicide attack on Iraq tribal leaders
AFP: Suicide bomber kills 33 near Baghdad
New York Times: Bomber Kills Dozens in Iraq as Fears of New Violence Rise

Tags: Open Thread, Wire, Headlines, DOD, Military, War, United States, U.S., News in Balance
Global Tags: Washington DC, News and Politics, News, Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Life, Culture, Buzz, Tension