At least 18 people were killed and other dozens were injured as two bombs exploded in Sadr City, northeast of Baghdad. Police officials said the first bomb went off near a house in a narrow alley in the district.

At least 18 people were killed and other dozens were injured as two bombs exploded in Sadr City, northeast of Baghdad.
Police officials said the first bomb went off near a house in a narrow alley in the district.

Another explosive device was detonated as people were gathered at the site of the first explosion, causing all of the 18 fatalities which included women and children.

Thursday's attacks took place in the impoverished Sadr City district against the office of Moqtada al-Sadr -- the senior Iraqi cleric, who opposes any form of US military presence in Iraq beyond a yearend withdrawal deadline, a Press TV correspondent reported.

The site of the explosion faces the office of Sayyed Muqtada As-Sadr, the senior Iraqi cleric who opposes any form of US military presence in Iraq.
This week,  Sayyed Sadr accused the Americans of plotting chaos and sectarian strife in Iraq in order to prolong their stay in the already-war-scarred country.

There are about 43,500 American troops currently deployed in Iraq. Under a 2008-clinched bilateral security accord, known as the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), all the troops are required to leave the country by the end of this year.
However, Washington has successfully pressured Baghdad to agree with prolonged stay of a number of the forces in the pretext of “training” the Iraqi forces.

Over one million Iraqis have been killed in the 2003-present US-led war and occupation, according to the California-based Project Censored.