FP morning post 4/23

Baghdad bombings target Sadr compound

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Top news: A string of bombings across Iraq -- mostly target Shiite worshippers -- has killed over 40 people. The worst of these attacks was a triple bombing targeting the office compound of Shiite cleric Moqtada al Sadr. At least 25 people were killed as they left Friday prayers at a Mosque on the compound.

Bombs also went off outside three other Shiite mosques in Baghdad, all timed for the end of Friday prayers. Another attack -- a series of bombs near the homes of policemen in the western town of Khalidiya -- appeared to target Sunnis.

Iraq's worst day of sectarian violence in weeks comes days after the announcement of the killing of two senior al Qaeda leaders. Al-Sadr has also emerged as an influential player in the struggle for power following Iraq's close and disputed parliamentary election.

Greek crisis: Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou asked for the activation of an EU-IMF rescue package intended to pull his country out of debt. European stock markets rallied with the news.

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Middle East Iran says that it will allow U.N. nuclear inspectors more access to uranium enrichment sites. Iraqi officials say they have arrested the mastermind behind a series of bombings in Baghdad in 2009. U.S. envoy George Mitchell has arrived in the Middle East for his first visit since plans for indirect peace talks were abandoned. Asia An ambush by militants killed at least seven Pakistani soldiers in North Waziristan. Thailand's red-shirt protesters say they are open to talks with the government. North Korea is seizing property at a resort facility owned by the South. Europe Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme has offered to resign after the collapse of his government coalition. A German bishop has resigned over accusations that he beat children while he was a priest Europe's air traffic has returned to normal. Africa A meningitis outbreak has killed more than 700 people in Burkina Faso. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe backed Iran's nuclear ambitions during a state visit by President Mahmoud Ammadinejad. The Rwandan opposition leader accused of propagating genocide ideology has been freed conditionally. Americas A 1-by-5 mile oil slick has spread across the Gulf of Mexico from the BP oil rig that exploded and sank on Tuesday night. Mexican police arrested accused drug lord Gerardo Alvarez Vazquez. Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo wants to impose military rule on the north of his country after killings by leftist guerrillas.   -By Joshua Keating

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ALI AL-SAADI/AFP/Getty Images