Eight people have died today after three bombs ripped through a sprawling Baghdad market at the beginning of a Muslim festival.

PRIME Minister Nuri al- Maliki said yesterday Iraq’s own soldiers and police were capable of defending a “sovereign and independent” country as American forces ended seven years of combat operations.

At least six worshippers were killed and 32 wounded today when a suicide bomber struck a Shiite mosque during prayers in Baghdad, Iraqi police said.

Two policemen and two civilians were killed in separate incidents today in Baghdad, police said.