WAVE OF SUICIDE ATTACKS KILL AT LEAST 29

BAGHDAD Militants unleashed a wave of suicide attacks across Iraq on Monday, killing at least 29 people and wounding dozens, officials said.

The deadliest attack took place in the southern province of Dhi Qar (also known as Nasiriyah) when a suicide bomber targeted a restaurant frequented by Shia paramilitary militia fighters, killing at least 14 people. Another 27 people were wounded in the attack.

At around the same time, a suicide car bomber struck in a commercial area in the oil-rich city of Basra, killing at least five people and wounding 10 others, another police officer said.

Pieces of flesh and debris littered the bloodstained pavement as black smoke billowed from the area.

Earlier, a suicide bomber rammed his car into a security checkpoint in the capital’s northeastern suburb of Sadr al-Qanat, killing six troops and wounding 13 others.

Another suicide car bomber hit a headquarters of paramilitary troops in the town of Mishahda, 30 kilometres north of Baghdad, killing four troops and wounding 10 others.