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Iraqi FM: Baghdad bombings possible inside job

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[August 22, 2009]  BAGHDAD (AP) -- Iraq's foreign minister said Saturday that those who carried out bombings that targeted government buildings in the Iraqi capital received help to pull off the attacks, possibly from Iraqi security forces.

The comments come as anger mounts over the bombings that have lead lawmakers to scrutinize the readiness of Iraqi security forces and raised questions about the loosening of security measures in Baghdad.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has ordered security tightened and concrete blast walls to remain around potential targets in the aftermath of the attacks, reversing an order earlier this month to remove the walls in Baghdad by mid-September.

"Regrettably, we accepted the order to remove concrete walls and removal of a joint checkpoint near the ministry," Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told reporters during a press conference in Baghdad.

Iraqi security forces Saturday used a crane to lift concrete blast walls one by one off a flatbed truck to build a new security barrier around the Foreign Ministry, adjacent to the fortified Green Zone. The walls at the ministry were among some of the first ordered removed by al-Maliki with the aim of improving traffic flow and making the city more attractive.

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The blasts Wednesday primarily targeted government buildings, including the foreign and finance ministries, killing at least 101 people and wounding more than 500.

Zebari said attacks were so well planned and executed that he would not rule out the possible collaboration of members of Iraq's security forces with attackers.

"We will investigate that," he said.

The Iraqi military announced it arrested members of the insurgent cell responsible for the attacks but gave no details about the suspects. Maj. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, the chief military spokesman in Baghdad, said on Iraqi state television only that both attacks were carried out by suicide bombers.

Zebari said the ministry was investigating how the trucks carrying the bombs were allowed to pass into areas where they are banned from traveling.

He said the prime minister ordered the arrest of officers from several branches of Iraq's security forces as part of an investigation into security lapses that allowed the trucks to park near the ministries.

"What has happened, the number of victims and the destruction of government institutions, is a real national disaster," he said.

Zebari said better, stronger security procedures need to be put in place.

An attack at an Iraqi military checkpoint Saturday came in an area in northern Baghdad where Iraqi security forces also have began dismantling concrete blast walls to open major roads.

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Gunmen killed two soldiers during a drive-by on the checkpoint at about 6 a.m. in Azamiyah, a former Sunni insurgent stronghold, an Iraqi security official said.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information.

The violence comes as the U.S. has halted combat operations under a U.S.-Iraq security pact that saw American troops withdraw from Iraqi cities on June 30. Under the pact, U.S. forces will withdraw from Iraq by the end of 2011.

President Barack Obama has ordered all U.S. combat troops out of Iraq by Aug. 31, 2010, leaving up to 50,000 U.S. troops in training and advising roles.

Iraq's government has not asked for U.S troops to return to the cities to help with security, said Maj. David Shoupe, a U.S. military spokesman.

Shoupe said the military was continuing to provide intelligence and forensic support to the Iraqis as they investigate the bombings.

"We have military transition teams partnered with most Iraqi security forces in Baghdad," he said. "These teams are working with their Iraqi counterparts to constantly assess and improve security in their areas of operations."

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Associated Press Writers Bushra Juhi, Chelsea J. Carter and Hamid Ahmed contributed to this report.

[Associated Press; By SINAN SALAHEDDIN]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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