Suicide bombers killed 50 police recruits in central Iraq and 49 Shiite pilgrims in the south today, a stepped-up attack as politicians work to form a coalition government.

Suicide bombers targeted Shiite pilgrims in the south and police recruits in central Iraq today, killing almost 80 people in a stepped-up line of attacks.

A suicide bomber detonated his explosives near one of Shiite Islam’s holiest shrines today, killing almost 50 people.