Terrorists 'use Down's syndrome suicide bombers' to kill 70 in Iraq

REMOTE-CONTROLLED explosives strapped to two women with Down's syndrome were detonated in co-ordinated attacks on pet bazaars in Baghdad yesterday, Iraqi officials said.

The explosions – which Iraqi officials said were detonated by mobile phone, suggesting the women may not have been aware of what was happening – killed at least 73 people and wounded more than 160 in the deadliest day since the United States sent 30,000 extra troops to the capital in spring last year.

The attacks happened at the central al-Ghazl market, where at least 46 were killed, and a market in the New Baghdad area.

Brigadier-General Qassim al-Moussawi, the chief Iraqi military spokesman in Baghdad, claimed that both the women involved, who were killed, had Down's syndrome.

"The operation was carried out by two booby-trapped mentally disabled women," he said.

"Forensic and bomb squad experts as well as the people and traders of al-Shorja area of the carpet market have confirmed that the woman who was blown up there today was often in the area and was mentally disabled.

"In the New Baghdad area, the shop owners and customers of the pet market confirmed that the woman who was blown up there was mentally disabled as well," Brig-Gen Moussawi said.

"The al-Qaeda terrorists and criminals are proud of this method."

Ryan Crocker, the US ambassador to Iraq, said the bombings showed that a resilient al-Qaeda had "found a different, deadly way" to try to destabilise Iraq.

"There is nothing they won't do if they think it will work in creating carnage and the political fall-out that comes from that," he said.

Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, said the use of the women proved al-Qaeda was "the most brutal and bankrupt of movements" and would strengthen Iraqi resolve to reject terrorism. "It certainly underscores and affirms the decision of the Iraqi people that there is no political programme here that is acceptable to a civilised society," she said.