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Violence flares up in Iraq

BAGHDAD: At least 80 persons were killed or found dead in Iraq on Monday, including 33 victims of a bomb attack on labourers lined up to find a day's work in Baghdad's Sadr city Shia slum. The U.S. military announced the death of the 100th service member killed in combat this month.

U.S. National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley made an unannounced visit here and met his Iraqi counterpart for talks on military and political coordination, the Government said.

Hard-line Sunni academic Essam al-Rawi, head of the University Professors Union, was shot dead as he was leaving home. At least 156 university professors have been killed since the war began. Hundreds, possibly thousands, more are believed to have fled to neighbouring countries, though the Education Ministry said he had no specific numbers on those who have left the country.

The explosion in the Sadr City tore through food stalls and kiosks at 6:15 a.m. cutting down men who gather there each morning hoping to be hired as construction workers. At least 59 persons were wounded, police Maj. Hashim al-Yasiri said.

Sadr City is a stronghold of the Mahdi Army loyal to radical Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, and has been the scene of repeated bomb attacks by suspected Al-Qaeda fighters seeking to incite revenge attacks and drag the country into full-blown civil war.

Along with rising civilian casualties, October is already the fourth deadliest month for American troops since the war began in March 2003. The other highest monthly death tolls were 107 in January 2005; 135 in April 2004, and 137 in November 2004. — AP

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