Iraq says 13 to be executed over Baghdad blasts

Source Agence France Presse

Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani said on Sunday that 13 people arrested for deadly bombings in Baghdad last August are to be executed, as Iraq's security chiefs were grilled by MPs. His comments came during a grilling by MPs in parliament in the aftermath of another spate of bombings in Baghdad last Tuesday in which 127 people were killed and 450 wounded. "We have completed 80 percent of the investigation over the bombings against the ministries of finance and foreign affairs," Bolani told lawmakers during the session, referring to twin truck bombs against the ministry buildings on August 19 that killed around 100 people. "The court was convinced by the evidence the ministry of interior brought and the 13 terrorists implicated will be executed." He added, referring to yet another set of coordinated attacks that targeted government buildings on October 25: "We are continuing to work on the attacks against the ministry of justice and the Baghdad governorate offices."