Iraqi police say two bomb blasts have killed at least eight people in northern Baghdad, including two Iraqi soldiers.
Police say a car bomb and a roadside bomb exploded within minutes of each other during the busy morning rush hour Wednesday in the capital. About 40 people were hurt.Iraqi officials also say the ceremony to mark the transfer of control of Iraq's armed forces from the U.S.-led coalition will take place Thursday, five days after it was postponed over details with the arrangement.
In other developments, authorities in Baghdad say 19 bodies with gunshot wounds have been found in the capital, with some showing signs of torture.
Also, a car bomb in the northern city of Sinjar, near the Syrian border, killed six Iraqi border policemen.
The Iraqi parliament Tuesday extended for another month the country's state of emergency, which gives security forces additional powers in fighting violence.
Also Tuesday, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said he hopes Iraqi forces will be ready to take over the country's security by 2007 and that British troops will be able to leave Iraq then.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.