Blast barriers back at Iraq ministry targeted in attacks

(NECN/APTV) – Concrete blast walls were erected outside the Iraqi Foreign Ministry on Saturday, three days after it and other government buildings were targeted in a series of bombings. At least 101 people were killed and more than 500 wounded in Wednesday’s blasts, which primarily targeted government buildings, including the foreign and finance ministries. The attacks raised questions about the loosening of security measures in Baghdad and led lawmakers to scrutinize the readiness of Iraqi security forces. An order made earlier this month to remove security walls in Baghdad by mid-September was reversed and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered security tightened and concrete blast walls to remain around potential targets. On Saturday, cranes were on site outside the Foreign Ministry building, piling concrete slabs which will make up the new security wall. Meanwhile, Iraq’s foreign minister on Saturday said that those who carried out the bombings received help to pull off the attacks, possibly from Iraqi security forces. Hoshyar Zebari said the attacks were so well planned and executed that he would not rule out the possible collaboration. The Iraqi military announced it arrested members of the insurgent cell responsible for the attacks but gave no details about the suspects. Zebari said the ministry was investigating how the trucks carrying the bombs were allowed to pass into areas where they were banned from traveling and that the arrest of officers from several branches of the security forces had been ordered. Meanwhile, residents of the Salihiyah residential unit, located near the targeted Foreign Ministry building, on Saturday rallied close-by to protest their situation after the truck bombing, calling upon the government to improve their standard of living. Most of the flats were destroyed or damaged as a result of Wednesday’s bombing. The rise in violence comes less than two months after US troops withdrew from Iraqi cities, raising fears about the readiness of Iraqi forces to provide security as the US winds down combat operations. Under an Iraqi-US security pact that took effect on 1 January, American forces will withdraw from Iraq by the end of 2011. US President Barack Obama has ordered all US combat troops out of Iraq by August 31, 2010, leaving up to 50-thousand US troops in training and advising roles.