At least 132 people have been killed and 520 injured in two car bomb attacks in Baghdad, Iraqi officials say.
The blasts hit the ministry of justice and a provincial government office near the heavily fortified Green Zone.
They came in quick succession at 1030 (0730 GMT) as people headed to work during the morning rush hour.
This is the deadliest attack in the US-occupied Iraq since August 2007 and comes three months after the US handed security control of cities to local forces.
The attacks have drawn comparison with those of 19 August, when truck bombs hit two ministry buildings and killed at least 100 people.
THE US State Department's annual report on global terrorism says that the number of reported terrorist incidents and deaths has increased exponentially in the years since the US invaded and occupied Iraq, largely because of Iraq itself.
In 2005, there were 11,157 attacks that caused 14,560 deaths, 24,875 people were injured worldwide and 34,845 kidnapped as a result of terrorism, in stark contrast to previous State Department reports, which cited 208 terrorist attacks that caused 625 deaths in 2003, and 3168 attacks that caused 1907 deaths and 6704 injuries in 2004.
In 2006, the number of worldwide attacks increased to 14,545, leaving 20,468 people dead, 38,386 injured, and 15,855 kidnapped as a result.
In 2007, there were 14,506 terrorist attacks worldwide, leaving 22,508 people dead, 44,118 injured, and 4,982 kidnapped as a result.
In 2008, there were 11,770 attacks worldwide, leaving 15,765 people dead, 34,124 injured, and 4,858 kidnapped as a result.
Last year (2008) alone, 19,083 people died, were injured or kidnapped in 3,258 terrorists attacks throughout the US-occupied Iraq.
The blasts hit the ministry of justice and a provincial government office near the heavily fortified Green Zone.
They came in quick succession at 1030 (0730 GMT) as people headed to work during the morning rush hour.
This is the deadliest attack in the US-occupied Iraq since August 2007 and comes three months after the US handed security control of cities to local forces.
The attacks have drawn comparison with those of 19 August, when truck bombs hit two ministry buildings and killed at least 100 people.
THE US State Department's annual report on global terrorism says that the number of reported terrorist incidents and deaths has increased exponentially in the years since the US invaded and occupied Iraq, largely because of Iraq itself.
In 2005, there were 11,157 attacks that caused 14,560 deaths, 24,875 people were injured worldwide and 34,845 kidnapped as a result of terrorism, in stark contrast to previous State Department reports, which cited 208 terrorist attacks that caused 625 deaths in 2003, and 3168 attacks that caused 1907 deaths and 6704 injuries in 2004.
In 2006, the number of worldwide attacks increased to 14,545, leaving 20,468 people dead, 38,386 injured, and 15,855 kidnapped as a result.
In 2007, there were 14,506 terrorist attacks worldwide, leaving 22,508 people dead, 44,118 injured, and 4,982 kidnapped as a result.
In 2008, there were 11,770 attacks worldwide, leaving 15,765 people dead, 34,124 injured, and 4,858 kidnapped as a result.
Last year (2008) alone, 19,083 people died, were injured or kidnapped in 3,258 terrorists attacks throughout the US-occupied Iraq.
