Suicide bombers kill more than 100 in Iraq

Suicide bombers in cars and on foot struck markets crowded with shoppers in predominantly Shiite areas in Baghdad and north of the capital today, killing more than 100 people, police said.

The attacks, which occurred about 6pm local time when the markets were packed with shoppers buying food for the weekend, came as US Ambassador Ryan Crocker was sworn in as the new top US envoy to Iraq, saying that he was taking over the ``most critical foreign policy mission'' facing his country. The violence showed how tough that job will be.

The deadliest blast occurred in the Shaab area in northeastern Baghdad, one of the first neighbourhoods targeted by US and Iraqi troops searching for Shiite militants and weapons as part of a security sweep that began six weeks ago.

Two men wearing explosives vests blew themselves up at about the same time - one at the entrance to the Shalal market and the other in the middle, police said.

The market was packed with shoppers stocking up on food for the Islamic weekend. Police said at least 61 people were killed and 40 wounded. Most of the wounded were taken to the nearby Shiite district of Sadr City.