147 Dead in Baghdad, 500 Injured

Jillian Bandes | October 26, 2009 9:46 AM

It's the deadliest day in two years for a country anticipating national elections in January, and for a President trying to build up his credibility on national security.

The high-profile Justice Ministry and Provincial Council complexes in Baghdad were hit by two simultaneous car bombs. Most analysts are blaming al Qaeda, though Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki balmed members of the Baath party as well. Maliki had recently removed security elements from Baghdad streets in an attempt to demonstrate his grip on security.

The timing of the blast coincided with the meeting of key cabinet ministers and political leaders who were congregating to discuss essential election law needed before the national elections.

From the wires:

With an attack Aug. 19 that killed about 100 people, insurgents have now wrecked an array of pillars of the state's authority: the Foreign, Finance, Justice, and Municipalities and Public Works ministries, along with the Baghdad provincial headquarters, which are all gathered in a fortified swath of downtown.