Sadr City news stories on Newser

Wave of Bombings Kills 61 in Iraq

Kevin Spak — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 08:07:07 CDT

Bombs exploded throughout Baghdad today, targeting Shiite mosques and neighborhoods, including the office of anti-US cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. A neighborhood in Anbar province was also hit with six roadside bombs. At least 61 people have been killed and nearly 112 wounded, CNN reports.

Iraq Elections Revive Anti-US Sadr Party

Jane Yager — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:20:00 CDT

As Iraq sorts out the messy results of last week's elections, an unexpected winner is coming to light: The populist party of anti-American cleric Moktada al-Sadr, long since given up for dead, suddenly emerged as the second largest Shiite block, and its strong performance is sure to shake up the...

7 Bombs Batter Baghdad; 95 Dead, 500 Wounded

Jason Farago — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:54:46 CDT

Scores of people are dead after seven coordinated bombings rocked Baghdad this morning, targeting both government ministries and poor Shia neighborhoods, the New York Times reports. Two huge bombs and three smaller blasts, probably from mortars, went off at the entrance to the fortified Green Zone, while other explosions hit...

Iraq Bombers Kill 41

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:50:10 CDT

Two suicide bombers killed at least 34 people and injured 70 in an attack on the home of an anti-terrorism officer in northern Iraq today, while three roadside bombs in Baghdad killed seven others, authorities said. The attacks continue a surge of violence in Iraq's troubled north following the withdrawal...

Iraq Protesters Burn US Flag During Biden Visit

Nick McMaster — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:15:01 CDT

Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to promote reconciliation among Iraqis was met today with protests by supporters of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, Reuters reports. Demonstrators burned American flags and shouted anti-US slogans. Biden plans to meet with PM Nouri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani to assess plans to heal the fractious...

52 Dead in Baghdad Blast

Harry Kimball — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:38:01 CDT

An explosion ripped through a market in Baghdad’s Sadr City today killing 52 and injuring 104, Reuters reports. Though Iraq has seen markedly less violence in the past year, today’s bombing is part of a wave of attacks ahead of the US military’s scheduled withdrawal from Iraqi cities next week....

Ashamed Families Behind Killings of Gay Iraqis

Matt Cantor — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:35:14 CDT

As security improves in Iraq, gay residents have embraced a new sense of freedom—and as a result, some 25 males thought to be homosexual have been murdered in Baghdad’s Sadr City in the past two months, the New York Times reports. The victims are usually found shot, sometimes with...

6 Car Bombs Kill 34 in Baghdad

Kevin Spak — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:03:26 CDT

Six car bombs exploded across Baghdad today, killing at least 34 and injuring scores more, Reuters reports. Four early blasts occurred within two hours, with the last two hitting within just minutes of each other. One of those, an attack on Sadr City, wounded 65 and killed at least 10,...

6 Iraqi Gays Slain Amid Religious Clampdown

Neal Colgrass — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:57:00 CDT

Iraqi authorities have recovered the bodies of six gay men slain since sermons condemned homosexuality at prayer meetings in Sadr City, Reuters reports. "They were sexual deviants," said a Sadr City official. "Their tribes killed them to restore their family honor." Homosexuality is more common in the city since government...