Baghdad: After a fall in violence in the Iraqi capital in recent months, twin suicide bombings tore through its pet and birds markets Friday, killing at least 43 people and injuring 95,according to hospital and police sources. Hospitals around Baghdad have been receiving the dead and wounded in the attacks, which occurred Friday morning as both markets were teeming with people doing their weekend shopping.

At least 35 people were killed in the first attack, in which a woman suicide bomber blew herself up in central Baghdad s al-Ghazl pet market, police and hospital sources said. The number of wounded was no less than 80,they added said. The sources put the death toll at eight in the other attack, in which another female bomber hit the birds market in southeast Baghdad. The estimated number of wounded was 15.

Al-Ghazl is a popular market that sells exotic birds only Fridays. It has been struck by terror attacks several times since the US-led invasion on Iraq. Life in Baghdad had been returning to normal due to a fall in violence in recent months. A major security offensive, a US troop surge and the involvement of tribal police units against Sunni extremist militants have all contributed to a fall in violence in the Iraqi capital.

Earlier Friday, the US military said a soldier had been killed and another injured in an attack on their convoy in Tikrit and a third had been killed in a bomb blast in Baghdad. Both attacks occurred Thursday evening.

Source : IANS