At least 11 people were killed and 20 injured in a suicide bomb attack at a checkpoint near government offices and courts in the city of Ramadi in western Anbar province. Violence has been steadily rising ahead of the general elections scheduled for March. In late December 2009, twin suicide blasts in the city killed 25 people and severely injured Governor Qassim Mohammed.1

In other developments, a railway line linking northern Iraq and Turkey re-opened after a seven-year gap following the US-led invasion. The move is being seen as an effort to boost economic and political relations with neighbouring countries.2

• 1. ‘Deadly explosion hits Iraqi city’, BBC News, February 18, 2010 at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8521475.stm
• 2. ‘Iraq-Turkey railway reopens after 7-year halt’, Khaleej Times, February 19, 2010 at http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle09.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2...