Iraq's Interior Minister: 76 wanted arrested for Baghdad explosions

Watch Video

Play Video

Iraq's Interior Minister has given his official reaction to the two suicide bombs that exploded on Sunday in Baghdad. The blasts killed at least 155 people, making the attack, the worst in more than two years.

Jawad Al-Bolani said on Monday the bombings were organized by a "systematic terrorist network."

Jawad Al-Bolani said, "A systematic terrorist network is responsible for all Baghdad explosions. 76 wanted men have been arrested and about 4 or 5 others are still at large. Our security forces are chasing them and they will be detained and brought to justice."

The attacks targeted the Baghdad Provincial Administration building and the Justice Ministry, wounding hundreds of people, including three American contractors.

The al-Mansour hotel, which houses the Chinese embassy and several foreign media groups including Xinhua, was also damaged.

Dozens of civil servants are among the dead.

Iraqis in Baghdad have reacted angrily to the attacks.

Mphammed Muheisen, Baghdad resident, said, "Yesterday's bombings are sorrowful and harmful. We don't know why they occur. We don't know what the aim behind them is. Did they aim at harming the Iraqi people? Is there anyone making use of them? I hold the officials responsible."

Map showing the location of twin suicide bombings in Baghdad.  Baghdad's governor on Monday blamed negligence or even  collusion by the security forces for devastating twin  suicide bombings that killed around 100 people in the  heart of the capital.(AFP/Graphic)

Both blasts took place just a few hundred yards from the heavily protected Green Zone that houses the US Embassy as well as the prime minister's offices.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's office has said the bombs were meant to sow chaos in Iraq, similar to the attacks in August against the finance and foreign ministries.

US officials say the attacks are aimed at re-igniting the sectarian conflict, or undermining confidence in Maliki before the parliamentary poll next January.