Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has blamed al-Qaeda and the banned Baath party of former President Saddam Hussein for yesterday’s deadly series bombing across the country and warned of more attacks as US troops end their combat mission. In a statement, he said that it is necessary that Iraqi armed and security forces are at the highest levels of vigilance and cautiousness during this sensitive period of Iraq's history, and take all the required measures to protect the citizens and state institutions and fight terrorism strongly and firmly.Meanwhile, United States has said that there are factions in Iraq who are seeking to exploit the transition period to undermine the progress that’s been made on the ground. The US acting Deputy Spokesman Mark C. Toner told reporters that despite the violence, the overall arc is towards less and less violence and more and more stability.Nearly 50 people were killed and more than 100 injured in the country yesterday in a series of bomb attacks across the country. Iraqi authorities have arrested a large number of people on the charges of their alignment with al-Qaeda. The incidents took place when US military is ending its combat operation on 31st August.