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51 killed in twin car bombings in Iraq
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-04-30 19:27

51 killed in twin car bombings in Iraq
Iraqis gather following several car bombs in the market place in Baghdad's eastern Sadr City district. The Iraqi army has blamed a wave of near-simultaneous bombings that killed more than 50 people in mostly Shiite districts of Baghdad on loyalists of Saddam Hussein's toppled regime. [Agencies]
Many Iraqis also fear there will be more violence ahead of a national election late this year, as political rivals and armed groups jostle for dominance of the oil-producing country.

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US President Barack Obama said Wednesday the string of recent deadly bombings was a cause for concern, but the political system was functioning and violence was low compared to a year ago.

Analysts said Iraq is likely to suffer suicide and car bomb attacks for several more years. While that will certainly present a dire threat to Iraqi civilians, it is less clear whether it presents a mortal threat to the state.

More dangerous to Iraq's medium-term stability than bombs is the fact not enough has been done in the political arena to foster reconciliation between Sunnis and Shi'ites, the analysts say.

Iraq has also failed to take steps to ease tensions over land and oil between Arabs and minority Kurds in the north.