Baghdad's ministries targeted in series of bomb attacks

A string of bomb attacks appear to target government offices right in the heart of the Iraqi capital.

A series of bomb attacks on Thursday appeared to be targeting government offices right in the heart of the Iraqi capital [2], Agence France Presse reported.

According to a security official and various witnesses speaking to AFP, the blasts went off near the foreign ministry [3], the culture ministry and the communications ministry.

All three government buildings are located in the same neighborhood of Baghdad, which is known as majority Shia [4].

Iraq has faced a series of bomb attacks across the country in recent months as sectarian tensions continue to flare [5]. Most commentators believe the attacks are carried out by the minority Sunni community, who believe they are being marginalized by the Shia-led government.

File picture dated March 20, 2003 shows smoke billowing after a missile hit the planning ministry in Baghdad as the Iraqi capital came under heavy US-led bombardment on the first day of the US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled Saddam Hussein. (AFP PHOTO/Ramzi HAIDAR)