Fourteen US Marines and a civilian interpreter were killed early today in western Iraq, the US command said.

Paul Garwood, Baghdad

Three suicide car bombings struck within an hour and two parked motorcycles exploded in northern Iraq today, while gunmen in speeding cars opened fire on a crowded market in Baghdad in a series of attacks that killed at least 38 people.

Three suicide car bombings killed 23 people in northern Iraq today, including a top municipal council leader plus a bodyguard of Iraq’s Kurdish deputy prime minister, officials said.

A WAVE of car bombings shook the Iraqi capital Baghdad yesterday, killing at least 12 people as rebels stepped up their offensive to block the January 30 national election.

A military strike was launched on a home in the Iraqi city of Fallujah today, the United States command said.

Gunmen assassinated a provincial governor yesterday, hours after a suicide attacker detonated a massive car bomb that killed at least 10 and wounded 40, in the worst attack in Baghdad since the United States handed power to an Iraqi interim government on June 28.

TWO American soldiers died in a bomb blast north of Baghdad yesterday amid warnings that attacks will increase with fewer than 100 days left before the coalition hands over sovereignty.

An American soldier died in a bomb blast north of Baghdad today amid warnings that attacks will increase with fewer than 100 days left before the coalition hands over sovereignty.

With fewer than 100 days until power is handed over to Iraqis, the country’s US administrator today established several Western-style institutions that are expected to put a moderating influence on the fledgling government that takes over June 30.

US officials are seeing signs of renewed control by Baghdad over military and security forces in Iraq, but said they don’t know whether it is coming from Saddam Hussein or his senior chiefs.