40 killed in market bombings

Bombs killed at least 40 people at markets in two Iraqi cities, hours after key MPs said seven Sunni Arab rebel groups had offered the government a conditional truce.

Despite the fresh opening between the government and the militant organisations – which do not include al-Qaida or Islamic terror groups – a top Iraqi commander said Baghdad’s forces would not be ready to keep the peace for at least a year in Anbar province, the militant heartland.