Eight suicide bombings in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq killed at least 23 people, including a U.S. soldier, and injured 70 as Shiite Muslim worshippers around the country celebrated their holiest day of the year.

The attacks came one day after at least 36 people, mostly Shiites, were killed in a string of attacks.

Saturday's bombings, during the religious festival of Ashoura, occurred despite stepped-up security around the country. Authorities had hoped to prevent a repeat of last year's attacks during Ashoura in which insurgent blasts killed at least 181 people in Karbala and Baghdad.

The attacks occurred as a five-member U.S. congressional delegation, including Sens. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and John McCain, R-Ariz., met with Iraqi government officials in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone.

Posted by: Jonathan Singer / 9:04 AM | Basie! Home