Spate of Iraq attacks kill 10

Attacks in Baghdad and mostly-Sunni areas of Iraq killed 10 people on today, including five who died in a massive attack on the home of an anti-Qaeda militia chief.
The Turkish consul to the northern city of Mosul and a top criminal judge in executed dictator Saddam Hussein's hometown were also caught in bomb attacks.
The violence was the latest in a surge of unrest that has killed more than 3,800 people since the start of the year and sparked widespread concern Iraq is slipping towards the all-out bloodshed which plagued it in 2006 and 2007.
Authorities have pushed a massive security campaign targeting militants, but analysts and diplomats have cautioned that the government must also address the root causes of the violence.

Today's deadliest attack was against the west Baghdad home of Wissam al-Hardan, who was appointed by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to lead the Sahwa, a collection of Sunni tribal militias.
Interior ministry spokesman Brigadier General Saad Maan said two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside Hardan's home at around 3:00 pm (1200 GMT), killing five of his guards and wounding four others.

A security source said the suicide bombers were given cover by gunmen who opened fire on the house, and fled the scene after the attack. A medical source confirmed the toll.
Hardan was not at home at the time of the attack, according to Maan.

From late 2006 onwards, Sunni tribal militias turned against their co-religionists in Al-Qaeda and sided with the US military, helping turn the tide of Iraq's bloody insurgency.
As a result, however, Sunni militants view them as traitors and frequently target them in attacks.
The government has increasingly turned to Sahwa fighters as it combats a surge in unrest, with violence at its highest level since 2008.
Also today, a bomb attack hit the convoy of the Turkish consul in the northern city of Mosul, according to diplomatic sources who said that while no one was wounded, all of the convoy's vehicles were badly damaged.

"It's not yet ear who carried out the attack and against whom," a Turkish foreign ministry spokesman said, adding that Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had called the consul for more details.
"The investigation is continuing. We have contacted the Iraqi authorities immediately after the incident and asked that the culprits be found out and that the security of our missions be enhanced.