Rash of insurgent bombings may postpone Iraq elections

BAGHDAD – A triple bombing aimed at a reconciliation meeting in Ramadi, the capital of Iraq’s Anbar province, killed at least 26 people and wounded dozens Sunday, highlighting fears that insurgents are regrouping in what was once the epicenter of their revolt. The blasts coincided with growing concerns that crucial national elections scheduled for January may have to be postponed if lawmakers fail to agree soon on a new election law.

The midday bombings targeted the Anbar provincial council’s headquarters during a meeting between representatives of the Shiite-led government and local members of the Awakening movement, a Sunni group that turned against the insurgency in 2006.

Two car bombs exploded in rapid succession in a parking lot outside the government offices where the meeting was being held, then a suicide attacker detonated a third bomb outside the city’s hospital as those injured in the first explosions were arriving. The attacks are the latest in a string of bombings in Anbar that have given rise to fears insurgents are regrouping before the elections, due to be held Jan. 16.

“They want to destabilize the situation in Anbar generally before the election,” said Anbar police chief Gen. Tariq Yusuf, who blamed “terrorists” and predicted further violence ahead.

In a statement issued Sunday in Baghdad, the United Nations mission in Iraq warned there is a real risk the election will have to be delayed because of squabbling within Iraq’s legislature over what kind of election law to adopt and the composition of the commission that will oversee the poll.

An election delay could in turn delay the withdrawal of U.S. troops, the bulk of which are scheduled to pull out immediately after a new government is seated.