Baghdad blasts leave 109 dead, injured

Authorities are putting the toll of the deadliest series of blasts in the Iraqi capital city at 18 dead and 91 others injured, according to initial tally, Monday. The capital city was rocked by 11 car-bomb explosions within a single hour in Al-Karkh and Al-Resafa areas. A security source told KUNA, "Five cars exploded in western Baghdad targeting a state bank, a police station, and a popular market. Two other cars exploded in Al-Sadr, eastern Baghdad and a third in a town neighboring Al-Sadr area. The three blasts targeted a construction workers' assembly area and Al-Zahra Hospital parking. "Another three explosions also took place in western Baghdad neighborhoods, " the source said. This is the most violent series of blasts suffered by Baghdad. A medical source at the Health Ministry, Baghdad, said the initial toll of 18 dead and 91 other injured was based on information provided by paramedics, and the figures are likely to go up. The source indicated a final report would later be composed based on information compiled by all the capital's hospitals.