Iraq attacks leave 15 dead as elections loom
Smoke rises above campaign posters after a series of bombs that exploded at an election rally. Photo: AP
BAGHDAD - Attacks in Iraq have left 15 people dead in the run-up to next week's first parliamentary election since US troops withdrew.
Shootings and blasts in the capital on Saturday came a day after a twin bombing by a jihadist group on a Shi'ite political rally killed 36 people, the deadliest single attack during campaigning for Wednesday's polls.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is seeking a third term, with voters citing a long list of grievances ranging from poor electricity and sewerage services to rampant corruption and high unemployment.
A bomb inside a central Baghdad cafe killed three people on Saturday, and gunmen killed four others in shootings around the capital, security and medical officials said.
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In Salaheddin province north of Baghdad, a series of attacks left eight people dead.
In one incident, gunmen killed four soldiers, while militants elsewhere in the province killed a provincial councillor and three of his guards.
Also in Salaheddin, insurgents detonated bombs at two polling centres but did not cause any casualties.
A police officer said at least two of the Baghdad assassinations appeared to be revenge attacks for Friday's twin bombings targeting the political rally.
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Iraq attacks leave 15 dead as elections loom