29 more civilians killed by bombers and gunmen

Violence raked Baghdad today as an Iraqi general took charge of the security operation in the capital and Iraqi police and soldiers manned new roadblocks - initial steps indicating the start of the long-anticipated joint operation with American forces to curb sectarian bloodshed.

However, bombers, gunmen and mortar teams appeared undaunted by the push that - eventually and on paper – will be able to call upon on as many as 90,000 American and Iraqi troops and police in a third bid to calm the capital in nine months.