Feed: CNN.com - WORLD
Posted on: Friday, January 06, 2012 2:00 PM
Author: CNN.com - WORLD
Subject: Witnesses: Blasts strike Iraq's Army Day parade

At least three explosions struck Friday near Baghdad's Green Zone, where a parade to mark Iraq's Army Day was taking place, according to witnesses.

EDITION: INTERNATIONAL
U.S.
MÉXICO
ARABIC

Set edition preference

Share this on:

Facebook Twitter Digg delicious reddit MySpace StumbleUpon LinkedIn Viadeo

Witnesses: Blasts strike Iraq's Army Day parade in Baghdad

By Jomana Karadsheh, CNN

January 6, 2012 -- Updated 1159 GMT (1959 HKT)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

NEW: The blast comes amid an upsurge of violence
Witnesses say the explosions are caused by mortars or rockets
Officials have said they are concerned about the possibility of attacks
There are no immediate reports of casualties

Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- At least three explosions struck Friday near Baghdad's Green Zone, where a parade to mark Iraq's Army Day was taking place, according to witnesses.

There were no immediate reports of casualties in the attacks, which come amid heightened security across the Iraqi capital in preparation for Army Day. Officials have said they were concerned about the possibility of attacks.

Witnesses said the explosions were caused by mortars or rockets that struck a short stretch of road between the Foreign Ministry and one of the main checkpoints leading into the Green Zone, areas previously targeted in attacks.

The Green Zone, also known as the International Zone, is home to the U.S. Embassy and a number of Iraqi government and military offices.

Sectarian divide blamed in Iraq attacks

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and other top officials attended the parade.

January 6th is the anniversary of the formation of the Iraqi Army. This is the first time Iraq has marked the occasion since the 2003 invasion.

The blasts come amid an upsurge of violence, much of it targeted at Shiites, following the withdrawal of American troops from the country last month. Dozens of people died on Thursday in Baghdad and near Nasiriya in the south in blasts thought to be targeting Shiites.