Hamilton says he had forgotten what it's like to lead after finishing second ahead of Perez
The attacks — four in Baghdad and one in the country’s north — were the latest spectacular assaults staged by insurgents seeking to undermine the Shia-led government’s efforts to achieve security across the country.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the bombings bore the hallmarks of al-Qaida’s Iraq branch. The Sunni Muslim group, known as the Islamic State of Iraq, frequently uses car bombs, suicide bombers and coordinated blasts in an effort to sow fear among Shias and erode their trust in the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
In the first blast in Baghdad, a parked car exploded in Baghdad’s western Jihad neighbourhood, killing seven worshippers and wounding 25, a police officer said. Another bombing in the eastern Qahira neighbourhood killed four and wounded around 20, while another blast killed three more and wounded another 15 in the Zafaraniyah district. A fourth car bomb killed five people and wounded 14 in the northeastern Binook neighbourhood.
Three health officials confirmed the causality figures. All officials in Baghdad spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to talk to the media.
In the northern city of Kirkuk, 290 kilometers (180 miles) north of Baghdad, a suicide bomber drove his explosive-laden car into a group of worshippers as they were leaving a mosque after Friday prayers, killing three people and wounding up to 70, according to police Col. Najat Hassan. A senior provisional health official, Sidiq Omar Rasool, confirmed the casualty figures in Kirkuk.
Also Friday, a roadside bomb struck a joint patrol north of Baghdad, killing an army officer and a police officer, a police official said. Seven others were wounded in the attacks in the town of Muqdadiyah, about 60 miles (90 kilometers) north of Baghdad, the official added on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to talk to the media.
Violence has ebbed sharply since the peak of Sunni-Shia fighting that pushed the country to the brink of civil war in 2006 and 2007, but Sunni insurgents still occasionally carry out high-profile attacks against Shiites, considering them to be heretics.
Friday is a particularly popular day for militants to undertake such attacks because of the rush of mostly men and boys who flock to the mosques throughout the country to hear traditional Muslim sermons and take part in communal prayers.
Hamilton says he had forgotten what it's like to lead after finishing second ahead of Perez
The defence ministry said it intercepted 50 Ukrainian drones overnight
Media reports had suggested the trip would begin as soon as Sunday and last two days
Visitors can enjoy movies with family favourites, including ‘The Jungle Book’, ‘Jumanji’ and ‘Zootopia’ to match the wild theme every evening from 8pm
Sheikh Mohamed conveyed his congratulations to all eight honourees, recognising their inspiring efforts and significant contributions in service to society
His father thanked everyone who participated in the search mission despite the challenges posed by flooding in various parts of the emirate
It will be humid by night and Sunday morning with a probability of mist formation over some coastal and internal areas
Nearly 6,000 volunteers linked to a single support group are working tirelessly across the country to help those affected