30 weeks since the election

Levels of violence appear to be rising in Baghdad, with a spate of bombings earlier today.

The city also accounted for almost half of all countrywide attacks reported in September.

From a political perspective, it has been almost seven months since Iraq held its elections but the lethargic impasse gained momentum in recent days after the Iraqi National Alliance (a Shi’ah religious bloc) agreed to nominate Nuri al-Maliki as its candidate for prime minister.

Al-Maliki now stands closer to forming a parliamentary majority, but concern has been expressed at his consolidation of power at the expense of Sunni political inclusion.

In terms of violence, the number of attacks fell in Iraq over the past week, with 20 people killed (a figure towards the lower end of the usual range of 20 to 90 fatalities).

A rise in the number of bomb attacks left eight people dead and 78 injured.

At the time of writing, a television cameraman is also reported to have been killed in a sticky bomb explosion in Anbar province.

Sticky bomb attacks have risen over the past week, particularly in the capital and the districts surrounding it.

Small arms attacks left 12 people dead and six injured (several involved the use of silencers).

There was an overall decrease in the number of indirect fire attacks (rockets and mortars) which left three people injured.

However, the most significant attack of the week was arguably a suicide bombing in the normally quiet province of Sulaymaniyah (in Iraqi Kurdistan) which left three Peshmerga fighters injured.

AKE’s quarterly statistics are to be published in a report later this week, but findings suggest that on average between two to three Iraqis were abducted per week over the past three months.

This is a worrying increase from the previous quarter and would suggest that criminals may increasingly believe that they will enjoy impunity if the political situation deteriorates.

More positively, however, a kidnapped child was freed from captivity in a police operation in Dhi Qar province during the week.

In another positive development the oil ministry announced the country’s new proven oil figures, which surpass those of Iran and put Iraq behind Saudi Arabia and Venezuela only.

AKE has compiled a graph showing the number of attacks taking place in Iraq in September according to province.

Baghdad has been by far the most hazardous part of the country, accounting for almost half of all the month’s violence.

Almost 200 days since the Iraq elections

Wednesday will mark 200 days since national elections were held in Iraq.

Terrorists are evidently still intent on disrupting the political process, particularly as the country remains without a government.

Levels of violence rose last week with militant activity appearing to have returned to pre-Ramadan levels.

At least 88 people were killed and 218 injured countrywide.

Baghdad accounted for almost half of all the attacks, making it the most hazardous part of the country.

The capital and the central provinces together accounted for three-quarters of all attacks, several of which took place on Sunday.

Overall, there was a fall in the number of bombings, but of the 25 which were reported they appeared to be larger than normal, killing 54 people and injuring 166.

A concerning rise in the number of shootings (particularly targeted shootings) left 17 people dead and 30 injured.

A notable rise in the number of indirect fire (rocket and mortar) attacks left at least eight people injured, three in Baghdad and five in Kurdistan.

AKE is also concerned about a rise in the number of bodies being recovered by the security forces. Nine people were found murdered this week, which is the highest figure recorded since June.

On 14 September the security forces found two unidentified bodies, one bearing gunshot wounds, the other bearing signs of torture adjacent to Abu Nuwas street in central Baghdad. Three more dead bodies (two men and a male teenager) bearing signs of torture were also found in Kadhimiyah, Salhiyah and one other undisclosed location in the capital on 16 September.

While these figures are much lower figure than those witnessed in 2007 and earlier, this is still a relatively high concentration in regards to recent trends.

Although the bodies were recovered in different districts these attacks may have been carried out by affiliated individuals, who may have been acting on religious, political or criminal motivations, selecting targets because of their perceived wealth, political affiliation, sexuality or mode of employment.

While world media is currently focussed on Afghanistan in light of its recent elections, conditions in Iraq are just as troubled. Almost seven months on from elections, a government has still not been formed. The political vacuum continues to provoke instability and uncertainty on the ground as a result.

Increase in Iraq Violence

Levels of violence rose in Iraq last week, a period which saw US combat operations draw to a close in the country.

At least 98 people were killed and 230 injured in nationwide violence, which is above the usual range of 20 to 90 fatalities and part of what appears to be a sustained rise in terrorist activity over the past month.

The most devastating attack took place in central Baghdad, where a suicide bomber targeted army recruits in Bab al-Muadham district, killing dozens and injuring up to 130. Otherwise, non-suicide bombings left 22 people dead and 92 injured.

In last week’s Iraq report AKE warned of the possible use of firearms with silencers for targeted killings in the capital. This warning has been realised with several ministry employees, judges, police officers and even a member of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) shot dead in apparently targeted close quarter assassinations. Countrywide, this worrying rise in small arms attacks left 24 people dead and seven injured.

The capital has also seen a rise in indirect fire attacks (rockets and mortars), most of which targeted the International/Green Zone, although several fell short of this target, causing injuries in surrounding residential districts.

More positively, the security forces managed to rescue a kidnapped civilian in Diyala province while there were no reported incidents of violence in Iraqi Kurdistan (KRG territory).