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Smoke rises near the Iraqi Ministry of Justice shortly after a blast in Baghdad - Source: Reuters -
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An al Qaeda-linked group has said it carried out the twin
suicide bombings that killed 155 people in Baghdad on Sunday and
revived doubts about security in the run-up to Iraq's elections in
January.
The statement dated October 26 was posted by the Islamic State in
Iraq group on a website often used by militants to announce
responsibility for such attacks.
"Suicide bombers targeted the dens of infidelity and pillars of the
rejectionist Shiite state in the land of the Caliphate," the
statement said.
It employed language often used by Sunni Arab militants to describe
the Shiite Muslim majority that has dominated the Iraqi government
since the US-led invasion of 2003.
"Among the chosen targets were the ministry of oppression known as
the ministry of justice and the Baghdad provincial assembly ... The
enemies only understand the language of force," said the
statement.
The authenticity of the claim could not be immediately
verified.
The same group has said it was behind attacks near government
ministries in Baghdad that killed 95 people in August.
Officials have said two mini-buses were used in Sunday's attacks,
circumventing a ban on truck traffic in heavily policed central
Baghdad.
Both were driven by suicide bombers from a nearby site, according
to aerial images from US-operated airships that hover over the
city.
The 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.
Insurgents are widely expected to try and upset an electoral
process that is meant to prepare the way for an ordered withdrawal
of most US troops from Iraq.
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