157 killed in 4 bombings in Baghdad

(AP) 4 bombings in Baghdad at least 157 killed.
(Later, AP, 4 bombs at least 183 killed.)

From Reuters: "I saw dozens of dead bodies. Some people were burned alive inside minibuses. Nobody could reach them after the explosion," said a Reuters witness at Sadriya, describing scenes of mayhem at an intersection where the bomb exploded near a market.

"There were pieces of flesh all over the place. Women were screaming and shouting for their loved ones who died," said the witness who did not wish to be identified, adding many of the dead were women and children.

One man waving his arms in the air screamed hysterically: "Where's Maliki? Let him come and see what is happening here."

After the ministerial withdrawal, Maliki has little direct leverage on Sadr and the Mahdi militia. I still don't think Mahdi want to fight the US, but if their plan is to return to the streets, this could be the pretext.

Later: The targets of these bombings were not just Shia areas, but Mahdi areas. This is intended as a provocation to pressure Mahdi back out onto the streets and into conflict with the US.

Earlier today, Maliki had said that by the end of 2007 the Iraqis would take control of all of Iraq.

Later still: (AP) "Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered the arrest of the Iraqi army colonel who was in charge of security in the area around the Sadriyah market where at least 127 people died and 148 were wounded in the deadliest bombing of the day."