March 01 2005 at 03:05PM
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Hilla - Hundreds of angry Iraqis protested in Hilla on Tuesday to demand improved security measures a day after a devastating car bomb attack in the central city killed 125 people.
"We have no use for these security services if they cannot prevent attacks," said 30-year-old Ali Mohammed, who lost a relative in the bombing - the deadliest single attack since the US-led invasion two years ago.
Demonstrators carrying banners gathered at the scene of the suicide attack as municipal workers cleared away the debris, while security forces stepped up their presence throughout the city, 100km south of Baghdad.
The suicide bomber struck a crowd of former civil servants lining up outside a health centre for medical check-ups that were required as part of job applications.
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| 'We found a burned copy of the Qur'an in the wreckage' |
"The lack of vigilance on the part of police allowed the car to enter like this," said a fabric merchant in the centre, who did not wish to be identified.
Others said they were perplexed as to why concrete walls that had blocked the three roads leading to the medical centre were suddenly removed.
"Two days ago police recruits were lined up outside the same centre for their medical check-up and nothing happened because the concrete walls were there," said resident Karim Qassem.
"This criminal act targeted the citizens who did not have any ties to the army and police and who have chosen to live in peace," charged Walid Janabi, governor of Hilla's Babil province.
Many in this predominantly Shi'a Muslim city of half a million people blamed Sunni militants for the attack and also faulted local security officials for their lax attitude.
"Police only come out after an attack," charged Saad Mehdi, a young man who lost his brother in the bombing.
"Dozens of policemen protect one official, while ordinary citizens like us are ignored," added 45-year-old Hatem Amer.
The car, parked on the street, was packed with several dozen kilograms of TNT and mortar shells to leave "the maximum number of victims", said police forensics chief Thamer Sultan.
On Monday, Iraqi security agents were forced to fire shots in the air to disperse the crowd sucked in to a scene of carnage, where 130 were also wounded when the bomb ripped through those waiting in the queue.
"Four of the wounded have died," Hilla hospital director Mohammed Dia said as he struggled to cope with the huge numbers being brought in by ambulance.
"We found the hands of the suicide bomber attached to the steering wheel of the vehicle and a burned copy of the Qur'an in the wreckage," a fire officer in Hilla said.
Ambulances ferried bodies and the wounded to the hospital, where doctors worked steadily to tend the wounded, who filled almost every room there.
"All the hospital's rooms, even those used for cardiology, are filled with the wounded," said Dia, adding that many of the wounded were in very serious condition.
Neighbouring towns had sent medical supplies and ambulances to Hilla, Dia said.
Many people also gave blood in response to calls by authorities.
Last year, 171 people were killed in bombings in Karbala and Baghdad in March during the Shia religious festival of Ashura. - Sapa-AFP
- This article was originally published on page 4 of The Cape Argus on March 01, 2005
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