Baghdad (AsiaNews/Agencies) Terrorist violence continues unabated as the Election Day that will decide the political future of Iraq approaches. Five blasts went off around the Iraqi capital killing 26 people and injuring many more.
Local sources told AsiaNews that these attacks are intended to make it impossible to hold elections. Both Baathist elements left over from the former regime of Saddam Hussein and Islamic extremists from Saudi Arabia, Syria and Iran are likely involved.
The worst attack came around 7:35 am near Baghdad police headquarters killing and wounding scores of people. A car bomb exploded outside the Australian Embassy killing two people and injuring four in the early hours of the mourning. At 8:30 am, a third car bomb killed four more people near the al-Muthana airport, which is being used as an Iraqi Army base. A fourth attack was also reported to have occurred near a bank in the capital hurting several people standing outside. Finally, US military sources reported that two security guards were killed in a fifth attack outside Baghdad airport.
In addition to bomb attacks insurgents continue to abduct people. A videotape seemingly shot by terrorists show eight Chinese construction workers being accused of cooperating with the occupation forces. In a message left with the tape, the captors said the eight would die within 48 hours unless the Chinese government clarified its role in Iraq.
To stem the escalating violence ahead of the January 30 elections, Iraq's interim government has decided to close all its land borders for three days in an attempt to boost security and prevent foreign militants from entering its territory from neighbouring countries. From January 29 to the 31, only vehicles with official permits will be allowed into the country.
According to Iraqi Interior Minister Falah Hassan al-Naqib, the elections could be in jeopardy and the country thrown into civil war if its Sunni Arab minority boycotts the planned 30 January national and provincial elections.
