26 dead, 39 hurt in Iraq attacks

Two car bombs exploded near government offices in the Iraqi capital today, killing 18 and wounding three dozen as insurgent attacks against security forces left at least eight others dead.

The near-simultaneous explosions outside an Interior Ministry office in a south-eastern Baghdad neighbourhood sent large plumes of smoke rising over the city and threw passers-by to ground, witnesses said. US military helicopters swooped overhead.