Four explosions ripped through Baghdad on Friday, killing at least 28 people and injuring dozens on the eve of Shiite Islam's most important holiday, officials said. It was the deadliest day since Iraq's landmark elections last month.

Suicide bombers attacked two Shiite mosques after Friday prayers ended, another explosion occurred near a Shiite religious procession and a third suicide bomber blew himself up at an Iraqi police and National Guard checkpoint in a Sunni neighborhood.

The attacks — the deadliest since last month's elections — recalled bombings on the Ashoura holiday a year ago that killed at least 181 during the religious festival.

In northern Iraq, meanwhile, three American soldiers were killed in separate attacks Wednesday and Thursday, the U.S. military said.

Posted by: Jonathan Singer / 9:35 AM | Basie! Home