Baghdad bombings kill 50

April 7, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

BAGHDAD

Bombs ripped through apartment buildings and a market in mostly Shiite areas of Baghdad on Tuesday, killing 50 people in postelection bloodshed that threatens to rekindle sectarian warfare that nearly destroyed the country three years ago.

The attacks appeared to be an attempt by al-Qaida in Iraq or other extremists to exploit a power vacuum during what promises to be lengthy negotiations to form a new government. About 120 people have been killed in and around the capital over the past five days — some of the most-brutal strikes on civilians in months.

For two terrifying hours on a warm, sunny Tuesday morning, at least seven bombs rocked a broad swath of Baghdad. In a new tactic, several bombs were planted inside empty apartments after renters offered high prices for the properties, the government said.

With militants singling out entire families of both Muslim sects for slaughter, the recent violence is reminiscent of the far-more-widespread fighting that tore Iraq apart from 2005 to 2007 and prompted the United States to send tens of thousands more troops to this country.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said that Gen. Ray Odierno, the top U.S. military official in Iraq, does not believe the violence threatens the ability of the U.S. military to draw down its forces this year.

The U.S. military plans to reduce troop levels from 90,000 to 50,000 by Aug. 31.