White House says Iraq troop pullout plan unchanged

The White House says a deadly spike in violence in Iraq is not expected to alter US plans to withdraw its combat forces this year. A series of bombs across Baghdad on Tuesday killed at least 49 people and injured more than 160. It was part of a recent string of attacks.

Authorities blame al-Qaeda insurgents who are seizing on a power vacuum since a March 7 parliamentary election failed to produce a clear winner. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Gen. Ray Odierno, the top US military official in Iraq, does not believe the violence threatens the ability of the US military to draw down its forces this year. (AP)