Sandstorm in Baghdad

A mother clutches her son near the scene where two bombs of unknown origin killed 15 and injured 30 on the road to Mosul north of Baghdad.  (Carolyn Cole / LAT)

Iraqi soldiers walk along a highway north of Baghdad where shops and apartments were hit by bombs of unknown origin. A sandstorm created an orange glow in the daytime sky.  (Carolyn Cole / LAT)

Two women sit in despair near a strip of apartments and workshops where bombs killed and injured civilians along a major highway running north from Baghdad to Mosul. A sandstorm darkened the daytime sky, creating a deep red glow.  (Carolyn Cole / LAT)

A human hand lies in the debris where an explosion of unknown origin struck a strip of workshops and apartments along a highway running north of Baghdad to Mosul. A sandstorm covered the scene with grit and darkened the daytime sky.  (Carolyn Cole / LAT)

Under a cloud of sand darkening the daytime sky, Iraqis join a chant of support for President Saddam Hussein. The gathering was at a strip of apartments and workshops where bombs of unknown origin killed 15 and injured 30 along a highway between Baghdad and Mosul.  (Carolyn Cole / LAT)

A shoe lies in the debris from a bombing in the Baghdad suburb of Al Amiriya.  (Carolyn Cole / LAT)

A sandstorm darkens the daytime sky and creates an orange glow as Baghdad motorists make their way through the city.  (Carolyn Cole / LAT)

Iraqi soldiers survey the scene of a bombing at a strip of workshops and apartments in the neighborhood of El Shaab, north of Baghdad on the the road to Mosul. A sandstorm created the sky’s orange glow.  (Carolyn Cole / LAT)