The official start to Ramadan was punctuated with violent attacks around Iraq today, including an assault on a police station and the discovery of more apparent victims of sectarian death squads in the capital.

Two car bombs exploded near government offices in the Iraqi capital today, killing 18 and wounding three dozen as insurgent attacks against security forces left at least eight others dead.

Masked gunmen opened fire today on a police station near the northern Iraq city of Kirkuk, killing four, while twin car bombs exploded near government offices in the capital, killing at least 11 and wounding over a dozen.