Iraqi officials say near-simultaneous blasts in Baghdad have killed at least 22 people and wounded 25 others in central Baghdad.
Officials say the two attacks occurred near a cafe Thursday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Muslim groups and the family of kidnapped American journalist Jill Carroll continue to appeal for her release.
Iraqi officials said they have asked the U.S. military to release six of eight Iraqi women in detention, but they say it is not related to the demands of Carroll's kidnappers. Reuters news agency quotes a Pentagon spokesman as saying officials do not expect to resolve the detained women's status in the near future.
Also Thursday, an international team of election experts said it found only minor election violations in Iraq's December poll. Iraq's election commission is expected to issue final poll results in the next week.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
