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IRAQ
67 die in continuing violence
In twin attacks targeting major Shiite Muslim cities, car bombs in Najaf and Karbala killed at least 67 people Dec. 19 and wounded 120, threatening to inflame sectarian anger as the nation prepares for next month's election.
In a separate ambush in Baghdad, heavily armed militants attacked a car carrying five employees of Iraq's Independent Electoral Commission, dragging three of the workers out of the vehicle and executing them in the street in front of scores of rush-hour drivers.
The attacks appeared to be the latest attempt by insurgents to provoke chaos and instability before the Jan. 30 election.
The Japan Times Weekly: Dec. 25, 2004 (C) All rights reserved
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