Three car bomb attacks near a bus station and hospital in Baghdad killed at least 43 people and wounded another 89 today, in the deadliest attacks in the capital in weeks. Survivors searched through charred buses and cars for signs of friends and relatives.

A suicide bomber strapped with explosives killed 20 people waiting outside a police recruiting centre for special forces in Iraq’s capital today, an Interior Ministry spokesman said.

Gunmen assassinated a top aide to Iraqi prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari’s Cabinet in Baghdad today, police said.

Insurgents launched a series of attacks in Baghdad today, including car bombs and a mortar round, killing at least three Iraqis and wounding 12, officials said.