Al Qaeda in Iraq ally claims bombings

An umbrella group affiliated with al Qaeda in Iraq claimed responsibility Tuesday for a pair of weekend bombings that killed 160 people in Baghdad, according to a report on www.cnn.com.



The Islamic State of Iraq issued a statement saying it carried out the attacks. The authenticity of the claim could not immediately be verified, but it appeared on a Web site frequently used by the group.



The group also claimed responsibility for nearly identical truck bombings that struck the Foreign and Finance ministries on August 19, killing at least 100 and wounding hundreds more.



Sunday\'s attacks which wounded at least 540 people, in addition to those killed were the deadliest in the capital in more than two years, the Interior Ministry said Monday.



The bombs detonated in quick succession about 10:30 a.m. outside the Justice Ministry and another government building.



Smoke billowed from the sites as victims fled, some with blood streaming down their faces. The streets were strewn with debris, including charred cars and chunks of concrete. Some government buildings and others in the area were heavily damaged.



The blasts sparked questions about Iraq\'s security and national elections planned for January.



Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who visited the scene shortly after the explosions, said holding the elections as scheduled would send a strong message to the attackers.



Sunday\'s attacks were the deadliest on Iraqi civilians since three truck bombings killed hundreds in August 2007 in Qahtaniya in northern Iraq.