The start of the new week, Monday 20 May, brought fresh and increased levels of violence to widespread parts of the central and southern belts.
The continued attacks, including more against Sahwa militia members in Al-Anbar, increased the number killed in sectarian clashes in the past week to more than 200, with over 70 people killed on this day alone.
In a not so common turn of events nine people were killed in one of two car bombings in the predominantly Shi’ite city of Basra, 420 km southeast of Baghdad, media sources reported. The attack targeted groups of day labourers gathering near kiosks while they were waiting for work pick-ups. Five other people were killed in a second blast inside a bus terminal in Saad Square in Basra in a similar attack to one perpetrated in March of this year.
North in Baghdad, at least 30 people were killed by car bombs in Kamaliya, Ilaam, Diyala Bridge, al-Shurta, Shula, Zaafaraniya and Sadr City - all areas with a high concentration of Shiia in their populations.
In a series of coordinated attacks outlying cities also came under pressure. In Balad, 80 km north of Baghdad, a parked car blew up near a bus carrying Shi'ite pilgrims from Iran, killing five Iranian pilgrims and two Iraqis who were travelling to the Shi'ite holy city of Samarra and 11 people were killed by a car bomb and a suicide bomber in Hilla, 100 km south of Baghdad in two separate attacks that targeted Shiia holy sites and outdoor praying areas and markets.
In the western province of Anbar, the bodies of 14 people kidnapped on Saturday, including six policemen, were found dumped in the desert with bullet wounds to the head and chest and a further three Sahwa members were killed in a car bomb explosion as they collected their salaries in the city of Samarra, north of Baghdad, ISF sources have reported.
This was not the only attack against Sahwa militia members this day. A suicide bomber wearing an explosive belt detonated himself at a Sahwa checkpoint, killing two fighters and wounded another seven in Baiji, 180 km north of Baghdad in what is becoming a clear campaign of extreme intimidation against a militia many insurgents believe to be government collaborators.
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