Al-Qaida-linked group takes credit for Iraq blasts

BAGHDAD -- Militants linked to al-Qaida in Iraq claimed responsibility yesterday for a pair of powerful truck bombs that killed 155 people and wounded 600 in the latest insurgent assault on the Iraqi government.

The carnage Sunday was the second coordinated attack that al-Qaida in Iraq has claimed recently in an apparent campaign to bring down Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's administration ahead of January elections, which are in jeopardy of being postponed by political wrangling and security concerns.

Senior Iraqi officials announced a tentative agreement on the drafting of a new election law, but the measure still requires approval from legislators, who remain divided on several major issues.

Kurdish factions also are wary of the handling of disputed territories in the agreement, which is scheduled for discussion in parliament today.

A smooth election would pave the way for a full withdrawal of U.S. forces and allow the Obama administration to focus on the widening war in Afghanistan.

The Islamic State of Iraq issued a statement yesterday saying its operatives "targeted the dens of infidelity," referring to the Iraqi Justice Ministry and the Baghdad Provincial Council, where the two bombs exploded Sunday. The statement was posted on Web sites and couldn't be verified independently.

Al-Maliki's government is struggling to project defiance at a time when insurgent attacks have destroyed the buildings and hampered the work of four key ministries: justice, foreign affairs, finance, and municipalities and public works.

Two of the ministries were hit Sunday; the others were evacuated after similar truck bombings in August.

Baghdad Gov. Salah Abdul Razaq, whose office building is in ruins after the latest attack, lashed out at the central government and security commanders yesterday in fiery remarks broadcast live on state television.

Abdul Razaq criticized the leadership for staying bunkered inside the heavily protected Green Zone.

"If they cannot protect us," he warned, "we'll protect ourselves in our own way. That message should be delivered."