Yesterday a suicide bomber strapped with explosives blew himself
up in a restaurant within the Parliament, which was crowded with
government official on their lunch break. Eight people lost
their lives, among them three members of parliament: among them
Mohammed Hassan, of the Sunni part National Unity Front. More
than 23 were injured. .
According to sources on the round, police
suspect that the suicide bomber was a member of the
Parliamentary security guard. Doubts remain however over how he
managed to smuggle such a large quantity of explosives into the
building, one of the most secure areas in the capital.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack the
executive ordered and investigation; today it is due to discuss
security within the fortified zone, which hosts government
offices and diplomatic residences.
Despite the numerous deadly attacks which are
carried out on a daily basis on the outside, this is the first
episode of violence within the perimeters of the Zone. It is
under the constant and strict surveillance of American and Iraqi
forces, and entrance to the area is regulated by a number of
check points. Until yesterday, these were entrusted to a
private security company, whose licences to operate the Justice
Minister has now revoked.
US President Bush has condemned the attack
and has underscored that the United States will continue to help
Iraq defend itself from extremists. The suicide bombing, he
added “reminds us, though, that there is an enemy willing to
bomb innocent people and a symbol of democracy”.
Baghdad Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, has
defined the episode as “a "criminal cowardly act" and added that
the violence “would not weaken MPs' resolve. US Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice said the attack “did not prove that the
increased number of troops, whose main aim was to improve
security in and around Baghdad, was not working”.
