Deadly Ramadan bomb attacks hit Baghdad

Baghdad has seen a wave of attacks against mostly Shia targets this year

A wave of bomb attacks has hit mainly Shia areas of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, killing at least 40 people, police and medical sources say. The attackers struck during celebrations marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Bombs were detonated in at least seven different areas of the city, targeting cafes, markets and restaurants. It is believed to be one of the deadliest Ramadans in years in Iraq, which has seen an upsurge in violence. Most of the violence in the past six months has involved Sunni Islamist militant groups targeting Shia Muslim districts. More than 4,000 people have died in such attacks this year. A further 9,865 have been injured, with Baghdad province the worst hit.

The deadliest car bomb attack on Saturday struck in the evening near an outdoor market in the south-eastern suburb of Jisr Diyala, police said, killing seven people and injuring 20. Last week Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki vowed to continue operations against militants, saying: "We will not leave our children to these murderers and those standing behind them and supporting both inside and outside."

Many Sunnis accuse Mr Maliki's Shia-led government of marginalising them; maybe he does. I have never seen an ethnic group who so enjoy annihilating each other. I guess in the Arab world, there is no 'live and let live'.