Six bomb attacks in Baghdad killed at least 17 people and wounded more than 50 today, hours before a highly anticipated ceremony in which the US-led coalition was to hand over control of the country’s armed forces command to Iraqi authorities.

Bomb attacks targeting Iraqi police patrols in Baghdad left at least 18 people dead and 57 wounded this morning, police said.

Three bomb attacks targeting police patrols in Baghdad left at least four people dead and more than 40 wounded this morning, police said.