Baghdad blast toll rises, deadliest in months

By Michael Holden

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi police said on Friday 68 people were killed in coordinated bombings blamed on al Qaeda in a packed shopping area in central Baghdad on Thursday, making it the deadliest attack in the Iraqi capital in nine months.

Another 120 people were wounded in the attack, the worst in Baghdad since 87 people were killed in a car bombing at a mosque last June. The U.S. military would not comment on whether the attack would have any impact on planned troop withdrawals.

On Thursday, the military said a brigade of 2,000 soldiers was leaving Baghdad and would not be replaced. Another brigade is due to leave the capital later.

"In this case the U.S. and ISF (Iraq security forces) can do everything right -- and still terrorists can commit heinous acts," Lieutenant-Colonel Steve Stover told Reuters via e-mail.

Iraqi and U.S. officials said a roadside bomb had exploded first in Baghdad's mainly Shi'ite Karrada district, which was crowded with shoppers and vendors on Thursday evening.

Minutes later, as Iraqi security forces and locals gathered to tend to casualties, a second, larger bomb exploded. Women and children were among the casualties.

Police and the U.S. military said they believed the second blast was caused by a suicide bomber but Iraqi security officials said it appeared to have been another bomb planted at the scene.

"This crime shows the hatred of these terrorists against the Iraqi people," Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said in a statement.