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Sunday, May 13, 2012 10:45 AM UTC

Attacks against security forces across Iraq kill 4

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Topics: From the Wires,

BAGHDAD (AP) — A series of bombings targeting security forces killed four people in two major Iraqi cities Sunday, officials said.

In the first attack, a parked car exploded near a police patrol in a main street in the center of the western city of Ramadi, police said. One policeman was killed in the morning blast in the city that was once an al-Qaida hotbed.

An official in the nearby Ramadi hospital said five other policemen were seriously wounded. Two passers-by were also wounded, he said.

Several hours later in Baghdad, a suicide bomber detonated his explosive-rigged belt at a checkpoint after policemen suspected him of being an insurgent and opened fire.

Two Baghdad police officials said two policemen and a passer-by were killed and nine others including three policemen were wounded.

The casualties were confirmed by a medic at the capital’s al-Yarouk hospital.

Earlier in Baghdad, double blasts took place in the southern district of Karradah. The first bomb, which was planted under a parked car, caused no casualties.

The second blast came a few minutes later as police and security forces rushed to the scene. It wounded six people including four security officers, police and health officials said.

All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.

Violence has dropped across Iraq since the days when the country teetered on the brink of civil war just a few years ago, but deadly attacks still happen nearly everyday. Insurgents launch frequent attacks on Shiites and security forces loyal to the Shiite-led government in an attempt to revive sectarian fighting in the country.

Bushra Juhi

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  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

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  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

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  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

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