40 killed in Baghdad as bombers target mosque and market

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.

A US civilian contractor also died in a separate attack.

The violence underscored the fragile nature of the security gains in Iraq at a time when US forces are preparing to withdraw by the end of this year and the challenges facing the state department personnel and US contractors who would stay on after the US military is gone.