Iraq still mired in violence

SYNCHRONIZED EXPIOSIONS IN IRAQ ON MONDAY killed at least 89 people and wounded more than 300, shattering what had been up until then a relatively peaceful Ramadan.

The wide-ranging attacks that included suicide bombers, car bombs and roadside bombs, targeted Sunnis and Shiites, civilians and security personnel all across the country.

Though no group immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, Al-Qaida affiliates were blamed for the carnage. The wave of deadly bomb blasts, which was the worst in Iraq this year, demonstrated a resurgent extremist threat despite repeated crackdowns by Iraqi and US forces. In the first five months of this year, some 20 suicide attacks have taken place.