surge update - Suicide Bombs Strike Baghdad Shiites on Holiday

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BAGHDAD, Oct. 2 -- Suicide bombers attacked Shiite worshipers at two mosques in Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 16 people and injuring more than 50 in a grim reminder of the sectarian tensions that brought the country to the brink of civil war in the recent years.

In Diyala province, north of Baghdad, gunmen opened fire on a minibus outside the provincial capital of Baqubah, killing six members of a Sunni family, including children ages 5 and 6, according to Col. Raghib al-Omaiery of the Diyala military command.

Such sectarian violence has dropped dramatically in recent months. But many analysts fear it could flare again as Iraq confronts a host of unresolved political problems.

The mosque attacks occurred as Muslims were leaving morning prayers celebrating the end of the holy month of Ramadan. In the Zafaraniya neighborhood, a white sedan exploded at an Iraqi security forces checkpoint near the Mohammad Rasoul Allah mosque, officials said. The blast blew apart a Humvee, killing six people and injuring 23, according to Maj. Gen. Qassim Atta, a spokesman for Iraqi military operations in Baghdad.

The second explosion occurred near a mosque in another working-class southeastern neighborhood, Baghdad al-Jedidah or New Baghdad. A teenage boy in a long robe blew himself up about 8 a.m. at a makeshift checkpoint manned by mosque guards, officials said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/02/AR2008100200214_pf.html