Over 100 wounded. Crowded street close to army recruiting centre targeted. 5 months on from elections, talks for a possible national unity government still blocked. Al-Maliki’s obstacles.

Baghdad (AsiaNews / Agencies) - At least 41 people were killed in a suicide attack this morning on a recruitment centre for the army. The explosion which occurred in central Baghdad, also wounded more than 100 people. The attack targeted a very densely populated, near a bus station.

Violence in Iraq has risen sharply in the month of July, but has not reached the heights of recent years.

The attack takes place one day after the suspension of talks on the future government. The elections in March gave a winner, but only slightly, the al-Iraqiya group, led by secularist Iyad Allawi, against the Shi'ite bloc led by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Dialogues and meetings have failed to build a coalition that has majority in parliament. The United Nations and church figures have suggested a government of national unity, but al-Maliki seems to want to hinder the change over to Allawi at all costs.

Local sources tell AsiaNews, that the insecurity caused by lack of government, is strengthening extremists and criminal gangs.  

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