Smoke billows from the scene of an explosion in south central Baghdad

Iraqi officials say two bomb attacks in the capital Saturday have killed at least eight people.

The first bomb struck a crowded market, killing at least three people.  Police say the device was meant to target police.

Hours later, a car bomb in downtown Baghdad killed five people.

Also Saturday, the U.S. military announced that an American soldier was killed by a bomb Friday during a patrol west of Kirkuk.  It said one soldier was wounded.

Jordanian-born terrorist mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is seen in these undated photos

The U.S. military says it has carried out a series of raids following Wednesday's killing of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, in hopes of dismantling his al-Qaida in Iraq network.

The Jordanian-born Zarqawi was said to have personally taken part in beheadings of hostages and other killings.  He was killed when the U.S. military dropped two 227-kilogram bombs on his safe house near Baquba, northeast of Baghdad.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.