Blasts in Baghdad, northern Iraqi cities kill 18
None
A wave of morning bombings killed 18 Iraqis across several cities on Thursday, shattering weeks of calm in a reminder of the nation's continued insurgency. In all, officials said extremists launched nine attacks in Baghdad and in northern Iraq, in Kirkuk, Dibis and Taji.
At least 71 people were wounded in the rapid-fire explosions that unfolded over an hour and 15 minutes. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, but Baghdad military command spokesman Col. Dhia al-Wakeel said they resembled those carried out by al-Qaeda. (AP)
