Bloody day in Iraq

A series of blasts in Baghdad yesterday killed 95 people and wounded 536 in Iraq's bloodiest day this year, prompting a rare admission of culpability from Iraqi security forces struggling to cope without US help.

At least six blasts struck near government ministries and other targets at the heart of Iraq's Shi'ite-led Administration, weeks after US combat troops withdrew from urban centres in June, thrusting Iraq's security forces into the lead role.

"We must face the facts. We must admit our mistakes, just as we celebrate our victories," Defence Ministry spokesman Major General Mohammed al-Askari told a group of US and Iraqi military officials yesterday through a translator.

His comments echoed earlier remarks from Baghdad's security spokesman, Major General Qassim al-Moussawi.

"This operation shows negligence, and is considered a security breach for which Iraqi forces must take most of the blame," Major General Moussawi told Iraqiya state television.

The sectarian war that savaged Iraq after the 2003 US invasion has abated and Iraq celebrated the restoration of its sovereignty in June when US troops withdrew from cities.

The government this month ordered most blast walls to be removed within 40 days, a sign of faith in its troops and police before a national election in January. But yesterday's coordinated attacks on heavily guarded targets shattered a growing sense of optimism about Iraq's stability.

In one blast, a massive truck bomb close to a checkpoint near the heavily fortified Green Zone blew out the windows of the foreign ministry. Dozens were mown down in a blizzard of glass.

"The windows of the foreign ministry shattered, slaughtering the people inside. I could see ministry workers, journalists and security guards among the dead," said a distraught ministry employee who gave her name as Asia.

The explosion was powerful enough to blow in some windows of Iraq's Parliament building in the Green Zone.

The attacks could undermine confidence in Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki before the parliamentary election, and could also deter foreign investors, especially oil companies, which might have started to think of Iraq as a place to put their money. Mr Maliki called an emergency meeting to re-evaluate the defence of Baghdad. He said in a statement that the attacks were aimed at "raising doubts about our armed forces, which have proven themselves very capable of confronting terrorists".

Analysts and members of the public disagreed.

"Today's attacks reveal a major deficiency and weakness of the security forces. They were organised and huge," said analyst Hameed Fadhel of Baghdad University.

Baghdad's normally busy streets emptied, and the few people still outside poured scorn on the security forces.

"The security forces don't provide security, they just cause traffic," labourer Haythem Adil said.

No group claimed responsibility, but Major General Moussawi said two members of al Qaeda were arrested when another car bomb was intercepted. Iraqi television later showed a truck loaded with water tanks stuffed with explosives that had been disarmed.

It was unclear if it was the same vehicle.

Sunni Islamist groups like al Qaeda consider Shi'ites heretics, and have been blamed for a series of blasts in the last two months at mostly Shi'ite venues like mosques, both in the capital and in northern Iraq.

Iraqi politicians and other officials have accused neighbouring states, including Saudi Arabia, Iran and Syria, of fomenting violence in Iraq. Analysts say that could be a ploy to distract attention from domestic disputes and failings.

The second truck bomb in Baghdad's Waziriya district close to the finance ministry killed at least 28 people and caused huge destruction. Part of a raised highway near building collapsed.

Another explosion was close enough to Reuters' offices in central Baghdad's Karrada district to burst open windows and doors. Columns of smoke could be seen rising from several sites.