A suicide bomber crashed a car packed with explosives into one of the gates of Baghdad’s heavily guarded Green Zone today, killing seven people, including three security officers, Iraqi officials said.

A double bombing has struck at an upscale neighbourhood Iraq’s capital, killing at least 21 people.

A series of bombings targeting security forces killed four people in two Iraqi cities today, officials said.

A rapid series of attacks spread over a wide area of Iraq killed at least 55 people today, targeting mostly security forces in what appeared to be another strike by al-Qaida militants.

A rapid series of attacks spread over a wide area of Iraq killed at least 50 people today, targeting mostly security forces in what appeared to be another strike by al Qaida militants.

A swift series of bombings and shootings killed 35 people across the Iraqi capital early today in attacks that mostly appeared to target police, officials said.

Two separate blasts killed five people and wounded nearly three dozen today, officials said, in the latest reminder of the violence and instability in the country as US troops prepare to leave.

AT LEAST 40 people were killed when four bombs ripped through Shi’ite areas of Baghdad last night — the worst violence the capital has seen in months — Iraqi officials said.

Seventeen people were killed in bomb attacks across Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, today, including Iranian pilgrims near a revered shrine and shoppers at a Shiite neighbourhood market, authorities said.

Rush-hour bombings in Baghdad killed a government employee and wounded five other people today.

A string of more than a dozen attacks on Iraqi security forces from one end of the country to the other killed 22 people and left scores wounded on today.

A string of attacks targeting Iraqi security forces killed 13 people and left scores of others injured today, officials said.

Gunmen killed 15 people in raids on a dozen gold shops in Baghdad today in another instance of violent crime replacing sectarian strife .

Bombings and drive-by shootings killed at least 25 people and wounded dozens more today around Iraq.

Iraqis voted today in an election testing the mettle of the country’s still-fragile democracy as insurgents killed eight people across the capital with a barrage of mortars intent on disrupting the day.

A suicide car bomber killed at least 18 and injured dozens more in an attack on a police crime lab in central Baghdad today.

Five members of Iraq’s presidential guard are facing trial accused of a deadly Baghdad bank robbery amid a surge in the country’s crime rate.

GUNMEN killed eight security guards to steal £4.2 million (€4.87m) from a central Baghdad bank yesterday.

Gunmen killed eight security guards to steal $7m (€5m) from a central Baghdad bank today.

A fresh wave of bombings swept the Baghdad area today as Iraq braced itself for more violence ahead of the planned withdrawal of US troops from major cities next week.

AMERICAN flags were set on fire yesterday to chants of “no for occupation” as followers of an anti-US Shi’ite cleric marked the sixth anniversary of the Iraq war.

Iraqis passed through security checkpoints and razor-wire cordons to vote today in provincial elections that are considered a crucial test of the nation’s stability as US officials consider the pace of troop withdrawals.

A female suicide bomber blew herself up in Iraq today among police officers who were celebrating the release of a comrade from US custody, killing at least 22 people, Iraqi officials said.

Bombs tore through a Shiite pilgrimage in Baghdad and a Kurdish rally in northern Iraq today killing at least 40 people and wounding scores more.

A car bombing in Baghdad has left at least 51 killed, Iraqi police said tonight.

VIOLENCE killed at least 42 people yesterday, including 16 bus passengers caught in a roadside bombing in southern Iraq, after the deadliest day for US troops in precisely six months.

Funerals were held today for many of the victims of a twin bombing in a crowded Baghdad shopping district that killed at least 68 people and wounded 120.

More than 50 people were killed and 130 injured when two bombs went off within minutes of each other in a crowded shopping district of Baghdad, interior ministry and hospital officials said.

At least 53 people were killed and 130 injured when two bombs went off within minutes of each other in a crowded shopping district of Baghdad today, interior ministry and hospital officials said.

Guards working for an Australian-owned security company fired on a white Oldsmobile in central Baghdad, killing two Christian women then speeding away - the latest seemingly unprovoked attack on civilians by the heavily armed and some say trigger-happy teams.

A suicide bomber drove his lorry into a police station north of Baghdad today in the deadliest of a series of blasts that killed at least 24 people.

The Polish ambassador to Iraq was slightly wounded and one civilian was killed in a car bomb attack in Baghdad today.

Fifteen civilians were killed and 17 others wounded today when a parked car bomb exploded in central Baghdad, Iraqi police said.

Twelve civilians were killed and 17 others wounded today when a parked car bomb exploded in central Baghdad, Iraqi police said.

A parked car bomb exploded near a market in a predominantly Shiite area in Baghdad today, killing at least 21 people and wounding more than 60, police said.

A car bomb struck revellers celebrating in Baghdad after Iraq’s soccer victory in the Asian Cup today, killing at least 11 people and wounding more than 30.

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 12 people were killed and 19 wounded when three parked cars exploded in a predominantly Shiite area of Baghdad today.

US troops launched a new offensive against insurgents south of Baghdad today, aiming to cut off another staging ground for attacks on the Iraqi capital, according to the military.

A car bomb exploded in a central Baghdad square today, killing 10 people and wounding 25, the deadliest attack on a day in which at least 18 others died in violence.

A parked car bomb detonated in a crowd of workers at a Shiite marketplace in Baghdad today, killing at least 82 people, police and hospital officials said.

Three separate explosions rocked Baghdad today, killing at least 25 people and wounding dozens of others, police said.

Two explosions rocked Baghdad at noon (9am Irish Time) today, killing at least nine people and wounding 18, police said.

The sudden release of an Iranian diplomat missing for two months in Iraq raised new hope today that 15 British sailors and marines seized by Iran may soon be freed.