Dozens of Iraqi civilians have been killed in a string of bombings and attacks, as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan comes to a close.
The deadliest attack Wednesday took place in Musayyib, south of Baghdad, where a car bomb exploded near a Shi'ite mosque and an outdoor market. Police said at least 21 people died and more than 60 others were wounded.
Elsewhere, a series of roadside bombs and shootings killed at least 11 people, mostly in Baghdad. The U.S. military reported the deaths of five soldiers, including two who died in a helicopter crash near the western city of Ramadi.
And Iraq's defense ministry has invited some former military officers under Saddam Hussein to return to the new Iraqi army, in an effort to bolster the Iraqi security forces.