By Muhanad Mohammed
and Ahmed RasheedPosted 2009/10/26 at 1:45 pm EDT
BAGHDAD, Oct. 26, 2009 (Reuters) — The Iraqi government blamed the bloodiest bombings in years on al Qaeda and other extremists, but many ordinary Iraqis think political infighting before next year's election is the cause and fear worse is yet to come.
Hundreds of mourners poured into the area where twin suicide bombs on Sunday killed 155 people, railing against politicians and the security forces in a funeral march, local media showed. Baghdad was ensnared in a traffic jam as the government, facing criticism for the attacks, set up extra checkpoints.
"The blood of Iraqis is very cheap and I ask, how many victims will it take to convince the government that it has totally failed?" Hameed Salam, a former army officer now driving a taxi cab, shouted in the traffic jam on Monday.
Iraq's January ballot is expected to focus on security gains under Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki after years of war, and sticky questions about the distribution of power and oil wealth.
The threat of more attacks looms as rivals seek to undermine Maliki, and insurgents try to upset the electoral process.
Two mini-buses were used in Sunday's attack, circumventing a ban on truck traffic in heavily policed central Baghdad, said the city's security spokesman Major General Qassim al-Moussawi.
One bus contained a ton of explosives and the other 600-750 kg, he said. Both were driven by suicide bombers from a nearby site, according to aerial images from U.S.-operated airships that hover over the city.
Many Iraqis say they see divisions and infighting ahead of Iraq's second post-invasion national vote as the prime source of instability in the world's 11th largest crude producer.
While violence has fallen since Washington sent thousands of extra troops, attacks are common in the politically-divided nation of 30 million people.
"The government is not in control of the security situation and political leaders quarrel over power," said Alaa Hussain, a former military officer.
"Maliki is not a superman and he cannot take control over the security of the country unless there is cooperation and union between the parties and politicians."
BLOODY DAYS
Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told U.S.-funded al-Hurra television that 129 people died. But police sources said the death toll had reached 155.
Many residents in Baghdad see a hazy connection between political disputes in parliament and violence in the streets. Politicians are currently at loggerheads over a law that will stipulate how the January election is run.
"Haggling between the parties, if they differ on an issue, is reflected in the security situation," said Haider Mohammed, a 34-year-old shop owner.
Parliament has failed to resolve how to conduct the vote in the city of Kirkuk, disputed between Arabs and ethnic Kurds. A council including Maliki and other leaders agreed on Monday to submit a proposal to parliament that they hope will overcome the deadlock, said parliamentary speaker Ayad al-Samarai.
But the impasse has cast doubt over whether the January 16 date is feasible and raised questions about whether politicians can make tough decisions for a nation emerging from years of strife.
Iraq is a far cry from the dark days of sectarian carnage that followed the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. The government says its doors are open for business and it is starting to sign multibillion dollar deals with global oil firms.
Yet, security remains fragile, and officials fear attacks like those on Sunday or the bombings of the finance and foreign ministries in August are aimed at re-igniting sectarian war.
The Iraqi government blames al Qaeda and supporters of Saddam Hussein's former Baath party for the attacks, and has accused Syria of harboring them, souring relations.
It has also sought a U.N. inquiry into foreign interference, a request Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari renewed on Monday.
(Additional reporting by Suadad al-Sahly and Waleed Ibrahim; Writing by Jack Kimball; Editing by Michael Christie)
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