A series of explosions in Baghdad on Thursday left at least 63 people dead and wounded 185, increasing fears that the country’s stability may be threatened shortly after the withdrawal of US troops. The deadliest attack was a suicide car bombing that killed 23 people and left 43 others wounded. One witness described it as eerily similar to the early days of the Iraq war.
The violence comes amid political turmoil over a warrant issued for the arrest of Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, accused of organizing death squads for government officials. Shiite Prime minister Nuri al-Maliki has demanded the Sunni vice president be handed over.
