[7] The attack is the deadliest in Iraq since the 25 October 2009 Baghdad twin truck bombings, which killed 155 people and wounded 500.
[4] Colonel Ahmed Khalifa of the Iraqi Army has criticised guards at security checkpoints, saying that "It’s clearly negligence and laziness at fault.
Speaking of the latest assistance, a member of the provincial council commented "The Americans are friends and in difficult situations they come to help us.
"[13] United Kingdom: A spokesman for British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that "real improvements" have been made in the security and politics of Iraq, and that "Those who seek to use violence to undermine these efforts will not succeed".
[2] Foreign Secretary David Miliband offered his full support to the Iraqi authorities in their work against terrorism, saying that his thoughts are with those affected.
Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, also said that "the terrorists who murdered innocent civilians today will not succeed in undermining the Iraqi people's progress toward a more peaceful and democratic future.
The United States will continue to support the Iraqi people as they face down violent extremism and work to build a more peaceful and democratic nation.