One attack claimed 155 of 364 killed in October
By Barbara Surk
Associated Press Writer
AP photo by Khalid Mohammed
Iraqis gather at the site of a massive bomb attack in Baghdad on Oct. 25.

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BAGHDAD — Nearly half of all Iraqis who died in October perished in a single coordinated attack against government offices in Baghdad, a tally by The Associated Press showed Monday.

Of the 364 Iraqis killed during the past month, according to the AP count, 155 died in two nearly simultaneous bombs targeting government buildings Oct. 25 in downtown Baghdad — the worst coordinated attack in more than two years. The impact of the devastating bombing, which occurred in one of the most protected parts of the capital, continues to be felt as the government struggles to convince Iraqis it can protect them.

The government blamed an alliance of al-Qaida in Iraq and members of Saddam Hussein’s outlawed Baath party for similar bombings in August of the Justice and Finance ministries that killed about 100 people and has called for an international investigation, particular with regard to the role of neighboring Syria.

In a nod toward Iraqi concerns, special U.N. envoy Oscar Fernandez-Taranco met Monday with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and senior government officials as part of “preliminary consultations on the incidents surrounding” Aug. 19 and Oct. 25 .

April was the deadliest month in Iraq this year with 451 killed.

Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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