General Chat

How many more must die,before they come to their senses. To all the innocents in this cruel and unforgiving war,may you find peace soon. its just so tragic.

Seventy-five people have been killed and 160 others injured in a double car bombing in Baghdad, Iraqi police say. The bombers struck a second-hand clothes market popular with the city's poorer residents in the deadliest attack so far this year. It is also the second major bombing in less than a week. Six days ago, 70 died in an attack on a Baghdad university. The attacks came as US troops arrived on a mission to boost security in a country racked by sectarian violence. The 3,200 troops sent to Baghdad are the advance guard of a 21,500-strong deployment ordered by President George Bush earlier this month. Challenge ahead After Monday's explosions, bodies could be seen covered in blue sheeting outside a Baghdad mortuary, while doctors at al-Kindi Hospital worked frantically to save the lives of the badly injured. The bombs exploded in the Haraj market, which sells second-hand clothing and DVDs, shortly after midday (0900 GMT). Columns of thick smoke immediately covered the area. Smoke billowed over the scene of the bombing The BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Baghdad says the market was popular with the many Baghdad residents on low incomes, and that the area was also a busy transport interchange. It was choked with traffic at the time, he adds, and there are fears the death toll could yet climb further. The attacks are seen as highlighting the challenges faced by US forces as they prepare to try to rein in the Sunni and Shia fighters who have been carrying out deadly tit-for-tat attacks.

Is there ever going to be an end to all this suffering ? June .

It is heartbreaking. My neighbour's mother lives in the centre of Baghdad and will not leave. Every time I read about another bombing, I think of her and the many other innocent people who are losing their lives every day. BC

It will stop as soon as religion is taken out of the equation. In other words never. Jean.

When will people realise the world is a lovely place and it would be so if they all helped each other and this killing must stop June ..

How awful. When will this all stop? Gwynne

What is happening is unbelievable, My thoughts are with the terrified civilians and the troops dealing with the daily fear, Caz xxxx

Take note Tony Blair,these are the people you are defending as peace loving people,yeah been there and seen brother fighting brother as they have done for hundreds of years. As soon as they get together in this country to cause trouble ,they should be rounded up and shipped out,not mollycoddled and given way to. The innocent parties i feel so sorry for ,seen a lot of that out there too.Fred.