37 killed, 70 injured in Iraq bombings

December 31, 2009 10:22 am | Updated November 17, 2021 06:59 am IST - Baghdad

Men gather around the coffin of a relative killed by a bomb at a burial ceremony in Fallujah, 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Baghdad on Wednesday after a blast in nearby Ramadi. Twin bombings - one an assassination attempt against an Iraqi provincial governor - killed more than 20 people and wounded the governor on Wednesday in the worst violence in months to hit the western province that was once al-Qaida's top stronghold in Iraq. Photo: AP.

Men gather around the coffin of a relative killed by a bomb at a burial ceremony in Fallujah, 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Baghdad on Wednesday after a blast in nearby Ramadi. Twin bombings - one an assassination attempt against an Iraqi provincial governor - killed more than 20 people and wounded the governor on Wednesday in the worst violence in months to hit the western province that was once al-Qaida's top stronghold in Iraq. Photo: AP.

At least 37 people were killed and 70 injured in three devastating bombings across Iraq on Wednesday, police said.

The deadliest attack struck the offices of the governor of al—Anbar province in the overwhelmingly Sunni city of Ramadi.

Qassim Mohammed al—Fahadawi, the governor of the province, and Abbas al—Dulaimi, the deputy director of the Ramadi police, were among those injured when a man detonated explosives packed into his car outside the governor’s office, police told DPA.

Soon after, a second man detonated explosives strapped to his body outside the government building.

Last week, al—Fahadawi had told Admiral Mike Mullen, the US’ top military official, that he feared attacks on his life, and that he wished US troops would delay their departure.

“When we go to sleep, we keep one eye open, just to be sure,” Mr. al—Fahadawi told Mr. ullen in remarks reported by Boston’s Christian Science Monitor.

There were contradictory reports as to whether Mr. Mohammed and Mr. al—Dulaimi had been killed in the blast. Police told DPA that the two, and provincial council member Saadoun Abdel—Mohsen, were being treated for injuries.

It was the bloodiest attack in the province this year.

As the day closed, a powerful roadside bomb killed the chief of police of the northeastern town of Khalis, not far from the Iranian border in Diyala province, police there said.

At least six other people died in that blast, police said, and at least 20 were injured.

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