A series of car bombs yesterday came hours before the government announced 7 March as the date for the parliamentary election, ending weeks of political bickering that had delayed the vote from mid-January and could have complicated US military withdrawal plans.
'All Iraqis from all sects have faced the most ferocious terrorist campaign supported from abroad,' Mr Maliki said in a televised live address, without accusing any specific country.
In August, Mr Maliki accused Syria of sheltering militants behind several bombings, including two strikes against government ministries that killed 95 people on 19 August.
Iraq has also accused its neighbours of failing to prevent foreign fighters from crossing its borders, and of not doing enough to clamp down on funding for al Qaeda and other Sunni Islamist groups.
Separately, four people were killed and 18 wounded in two incidents involving roadside bombs in Baghdad today, police said.
