Baghdad bomb kills 5 at home against explosions linked to Sunni politician
The attacks, which the officer left 26 wounded, raising fears that unleash a wave of violence following the elections at a time of difficult negotiations that begin to form the next Iraqi government.
The blasts on Sunday occurred in Qaim, 320 kilometers (200 miles) west of Baghdad and the Syrian border, police official said.
The first bomb, hidden in a house under construction, exploded at 7 am at Qaim. When witnesses gathered at the scene, broke four, which caused five deaths.
The official, who requested anonymity, said the house is the brother of Sheikh Mohammed al Murdhi -Mahalawi, a Sunni candidate Iraqiya, a group led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi that finished first in the voting on March 7.
A relative of al-Mahalawi, who declined identified for fear of possible attacks, said two of his cousins who lived next to the house, died in the blasts. They were identified as Yusef Mahalawi Radhi al-Radhi and Mohamed al-Mahalawi, both members of a Sunni party belonging to the Allawi”s secular coalition.
In an alarming sign of sectarian tensions, the Sunni leader Khalil al-Obaidi was killed Saturday in Baghdad when a sniper shot dead by celebrating the victory of Allawi, officials said. His funeral was held on Sunday.
Later, a bomb hidden in a street killing one soldier and wounded five others in a Sunni neighborhood of Baghdad.