Following the bombing of Coruscant's central power distribution grid and the failure of diplomatic discussions, Count Dooku claimed that the Galactic Republic had initiated an attack against the Separatists, resulting in numerous deaths, notably that of the influential Separatist Senator Mina Bonteri. Counter to this, Republic spies asserted that Separatist operatives were responsible for Bonteri's demise, leading Dooku to retract Bonteri's peace proposal which had been put forward by the Separatist Senate.