At least 12 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack on a restaurant in north-eastern Iraq.
The attack took place in Khanaqin, Diyala province, a town close to the semi-autonomous Kurdish region and near the border with Iran.
It comes days after Iraq held largely peaceful provincial elections, the first results of which are expected to be released on Thursday. Kurdish and police officials say at least 15 other people were injured.
Ethnic tensions
Khanaqin is the centre of a power struggle between Kurds and Arabs.
The town holds sizeable oil reserves and longstanding Kurdish ambitions to incorporate Khanaqin into their northern semi-autonomous region have sparked ethnic tensions with Arabs.
Correspondents say that on election day, hundreds of Kurds complained that they couldn't find their names on voter registration lists.
Salahuddin Kokha, an official with a local Kurdish political party, said the attack was meant to upset Kurdish claims of a strong showing in the provincial elections. "Terrorists want to destroy the happiness of the Kurds over their election victory in Khanaqin," he said.
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Deadly bombing at Iraq restaurant
I don't normally bother linking all of these attacks to this thread- to say the least, repetitive. Violence is down, unquestionably good, but still happening. Ethnic/ regional tensions are the biggest concern currently.
The operation was a failure, but at least one with an end in sight for the occupying force. But the cost so far is around fifty times the pre-invasion estimates. 'Democracy' has not been a good force in Iraq so far, but that should not surprise too many people seeing as it was foisted on the back of a violent invasion, the country plunged into anarchy following the summary dismissal of the security forces, the infrastructural promises not remotely delivered, the country descending into bloody internecine warfare, some shameful incidents involving the Occupation forces- and all justified on the back of a false accusation.
Quite some failure.