25 Arrested in Iraq Bomb Plot Sweep

Sunni MPs Say Plot Exaggerated

Iraqi security sources seized 880 lbs of explosives today and arrested 25 people in what they said was a massive bombing plot aimed at targeting unknown government ministries around Baghdad.

Experts say the explosives would’ve been sufficent for 10 car bombs or one large truck bomb, which suggests the plot was significant but probably not as large as previous coordinated bombing plots in Baghdad, in which multiple trucks filled with explosives were used.

MPs from the banned Sunni opposition suggested that the incident was exaggerated in an effort to drum up support for the Shi’ite government ahead of the March election.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki blamed Ba’athists for the plot, which will likely complicate reports from earlier in the day that the CIA is attempting to negotiate a truce with the Ba’athists.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is news editor of Antiwar.com.