


In both bombings, the attackers were mentally disabled two women with Down's syndrome whose explosive belts were remotely detonated, Gen. Qasim Atta, spokesman for Baghdad's security plan, told state television.
Atta said the women were strapped with dynamite and ball bearings, citing members of the bomb squad. The explosives were detonated via cell phone, he said.
An Atta aide said that people referred to the bomber at central Baghdad's al-Ghazl market as the "crazy woman" and that the bomber at a second market had an unspecified birth disability.
The aide said authorities believe the women were unaware of plans to detonate the explosives.
The nationalities and identities of the women have not been released.
U.S. military officials referred to the two attacks as suicide bombings, saying both women detonated the explosive devices.
Women in the pet markets grieve after the twin bombings, which were reportedly carried out against the will of the bombers The attacks, shortly before the weekly Islamic call to prayer, were the latest in a series of violent incidents that have been chipping away at Iraqi confidence in the permanence of recent security improvements.
One pigeon seller at the al-Ghazl market said it had been particularly busy because it was a pleasantly crisp and clear winter day after a recent cold spell.
"I have been going to the pet market with my friend every Friday, selling and buying pigeons," said Ali Ahmed, who was hit by shrapnel in his legs and chest.
"I just remember the horrible scene of the bodies of dead and wounded people mixed with the blood of animals and birds, then I found myself in a hospital bed."
Putting what is left of one of the bombers into a bag
A WOMAN suspected of recruiting more than 80 female suicide bombers has confessed to organising their rapes so she could later convince them that martyrdom was the only way to escape the shame.
Samira Jassam, 51, was arrested by Iraqi police and confessed to recruiting the women and orchestrating dozens of attacks.
In a video confession, she explained how she had mentally prepared the women for martyrdom operations, passed them on to terrorists who provided explosives, and then took the bombers to their targets.
"We arrested Samira Jassim, known as 'Um al-Mumenin', the mother of the believers, who was responsible for recruiting 80 women'', Major General Qassim Atta said.
"She confessed her responsibility for these actions, and she confirmed that 28 attempts had been made in one of the terrorists' strongholds,'' he said.
Samira Jassim was arrested on January 21. She is allegedly linked to the Ansar al-Sunnah insurgent group.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25006101-12335,00.html