Yesterday’s bombings aim to undermine political process- ministry

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The series of deadly blasts that struck the capital Baghdad yesterday aimed at undermining the Iraqi political process and crippling the security forces’ ability to maintain order, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday. “These attempts and terrorist attacks primarily aim to undermine the political process and to cripple the Iraqi state’s ability to restore its position within the international community…,” according to a ministry statement received by Iraqi News. According to official figures, six explosions hit Baghdad yesterday (Aug. 19), leaving 82 dead and 1,203 wounded. “The attacks will increase our determination to make much headway in serving the Iraqi people and defending its just causes…,” the statement added. The attacks are reminiscent of the bombing of the United Nations’ Baghdad headquarters in 2003, which killed 22 UN personnel, including its special representative Sergio Vieira de Mello, and wounded more than 150 others, the statement added. SS (P)/SR 1