Two suicide car bombs exploded in downtown Baghdad Sunday, killing at least 136 people and delivering a powerful blow to the heart of the fragile city"s government in the worst attack of the year, AP reported. While violence has dropped dramatically in the country since the height of the sectarian tensions, such bombings like Sunday"s demonstrate the precarious nature of the security gains and the insurgency"s abilities to still pull off devastating attacks in the center of what is supposed to be one of Baghdad"s most secure areas. Black smoke could be seen billowing from the frantic scene, as emergency service vehicles sped to the area. Even civilian cars were being commandeered to transport the wounded to hospitals. The car bombs, which targeted the Justice Ministry and the Baghdad provincial administration, come as Iraq is preparing for elections scheduled this January, and many Iraqi officials have warned that violence by insurgents intent destabilizing the country could rise. Sunday"s explosions also injured nearly 600 people who were taken to six area hospitals. Medical officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, gave the death toll. -- SPA
