The powerful bombs that left scores of people dead in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities in the last few weeks have violently countered the notion that the country's security situation has been improving.

Fingers of responsibility have been directed at al-Qaeda and remnants of the Baath party, and the political differences among the ruling coalition have been thrust into the spotlight.

Inside Iraq takes a look at the political fall-out from one of the most devastating bombings in months.

Jasim is joined this week by Hoshyar Zebari, the Iraqi foreign minister, Al-Sharif Ali bin al-Hussein, the leader of the Constitutional Movement of Iraq, and John Nagl, the president of the Center for a New American Security.