Pakistani militants killed at least 41 people in two separate incidents, officials yesterday said, challenging assertions that military offensives have broken the back of hardline Islamist groups.

Three parked cars exploded within 30 minutes in a predominantly Shiite area in Baghdad today, killing at least 12 people, police said, the deadliest in a series of bombings and shooting attacks nationwide.

At least 20 people were killed in Iraq today in violence against Shiite pilgrims marking the Ashoura holy day.

Iraqi government officials today failed to deliver the promised results of an investigation into alleged torture at an interior ministry jail in Baghdad.