A series of suicide bombings in and around Baghdad has killed at least 25 people and wounded more than 100 others. US military officials say seven American soldiers were wounded in the Friday attacks, which mainly targeted coalition and Iraqi forces. One explosion happened on a bridge overlooking the home of Iraq's President Jalal Talabani, killing three of his security guards. The Kurdish politician was reportedly home at the time of the incident but not injured in the blast. In the deadliest attack, eight Iraqis were killed when a suicide car bomber struck an Iraqi army checkpoint in the neighborhood of Ash-Shab. Al-Qaida in Iraq has claimed responsibility for some of the attacks, but the claim could not be verified.
Meanwhile, police in Iraq's northern city of Kirkuk say two suicide bombers were killed when their car exploded prematurely.