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67 killed in Iraq blasts; jolt to Maliki

BAGHDAD: Iraq’s largest Sunni Arab political bloc announced its withdrawal from the Government on Wednesday, undermining Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s efforts to seek reconciliation among the rival factions.

Violence continued unabated, with 50 persons killed and 60 wounded when a suicide attacker exploded a fuel truck near a gas station in western Baghdad. Another 17 died in a separate car bomb attack in a central region of the capital.

The U.S. military announced the deaths of four American soldiers, three of whom were killed by a sophisticated, armour-piercing bomb. Britain also announced the death of one of its soldiers, by a roadside bomb in Basra.

Rafaa al-Issawi, a leading member of the Front, said at a news conference in the capital that the bloc’s six Cabinet Ministers would submit their resignations later in the day.

Mr. Al-Issawi said the decision followed what he called Mr. Maliki’s failure to respond to a set of demands put forward by the Accordance Front last week, when it gave him seven days to meet its demands. The ultimatum expired on Wednesday.

Among the demands: release of security detenus not charged with specific crimes, the disbanding of militias and the participation of all groups represented in the Government in dealing with security issues.

The Accordance Front has 44 of parliament’s 275 seats.— AP

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