Iraq auction to go ahead

Debtis: a soldier stands in the middle Cairo Street in northern Baghdad, one of the targets of this morning's attacks

The Iraqi Oil Ministry will press ahead with this week's auction of 10 oilfield contracts, despite a series of bomb attacks in Baghdad today which left at least 112 people dead and 197 injured.

Five bombs detonated in the city centre this morning. The number of casualties is expected to rise. Initial reports said the bombs were placed near official buildings, but none detonated near the oil ministry.

Over the last few weeks, suicide bombers have attacked key government buildings, including the headquarters of the justice, finance, and foreign ministries in central Baghdad.

Abdul Mahdy Ameedi, the deputy director general at the Oil Ministy's petroleum contracts and licensing directorate told Dow Jones that tight security measures will be in place for the auction.

He added all roads leading…

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