Baghdad has once again been rocked by an explosion - this time the target was the Turkish embassy. A suicide bomber killed himself and wounded several other people when his car blew up outside the heavily-fortified building. Scenes of chaos followed.
One unconfirmed report suggests a motorist whose vehicle was near the scene of the blast also lost his life.
Further explosions were reported shortly afterwards and a demonstration broke out in support of Iraq's toppled president.
"With our blood, with our souls, we will save you Saddam," was the cry of dozens of people on the streets. The angry rally was broken up by Iraqi police. Meanwhile, casualties were being treated in hospital amid intense speculation about the motive for the bomb attack.
Last week, Turkey's parliament agreed to send troops to join US and other foreign soldiers trying to stabilise Iraq. Today's events illustrate that bringing calm to Baghdad is easier said than done.
The embassy blast comes just two days after a deadly explosion outside a hotel in the city, used by United States officials.
**Cool UN Response to US Iraq Draft***
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and several of the organisation's members have expressed disappointment at Washington's latest draft resolution on the future of Iraq being presented to the UN Security Council.
It is the third time that the White House has tried to win support for its proposals.
"The current resolution does not represent a major shift in the thinking of the coalition," said Annan, "however, I am grateful that they have taken into account some of my preoccupations and, of course, I will implement any resolution that the council might adopt."
Earlier, France and Germany had hinted at a more favourable response but now it seems they, alongside Russia, are putting forward suggestions as to how the draft can be altered again.
The resolution, co-sponsored by Britain and Spain, proposes 15th December as a date for Iraqi leaders to devise a timetable for self rule - an addition seen as a key concession to critics by the Bush administration.
But the chief objection to the document remains the open-ended occupation in Iraq by the US-led coalition.
**PHOTO CAPTION***
A civilian comes to the aid of an injured man slumped in a truck, in this image from television after a car bomb exploded near the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq on Tuesday Oct. 14, 2003. (AP Photo/APTN)