At least 80 dead in Iraq as textile factory bombed

[malaise]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8671823.stm
<snip>
At least 80 people have died and many more wounded in a series of shootings and suicide bombings in Iraq - the worst day of violence there this year.

The central city of Hilla saw the deadliest attack, when staff at a textiles factory were hit by three bomb attacks, killing at least 35 people.

The violence began with a series of drive-by shootings targeting police and army officers in the capital Baghdad.

Iraq remains in political stalemate after inconclusive elections in March.

Both Iraqi and US officials have warned that the political situation could be exploited by al-Qaeda.

Two car bombs exploded in quick succession at the entrance to the textile factory in Hilla, just as workers boarded buses to go home in the middle of the day.

Later, as bystanders and emergency services rushed in to help the wounded, a suicide bomber detonated explosives causing a third explosion.

At least 35 people were killed and more than 130 were wounded.

[maxsolomon]

1. were the textile workers shiia?

the violence has been relentless against the shiia.

i'm shocked that al sadr's mahdi army is still standing on the sidelines. or do we just not hear about the reprisals?