Bomb attacks in Baghdad have killed at least nine people Sunday, while 15 police recruits were killed north of the city.
In Baghdad, deadly explosions occurred in shopping areas filled with people buying goods for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.
In Baquba, north of Baghdad, 15 police recruits were killed when gunmen ambushed their convoy.
The U.S. military announced that five more U.S. troops were killed in combat, bringing the death toll of American troops in Iraq this month to 83, the highest monthly toll this year.
The New York Times newspaper quoted U.S. officials as saying the Bush administration is drafting a timetable for the Iraqi government to take on a greater role in security. The White House said the report was inaccurate.
Also today, Britain's Prince Phillip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth, paid a surprise visit to British troops serving in southern Iraq.
October is on track to be one of the deadliest months for American troops since the March 2003 invasion.
President Bush reviewed his strategy for Iraq with top advisors and military commanders Friday and Saturday. He said the U.S. goal remains the same.
The Arabic television station al-Jazeera broadcast an interview Saturday with a senior U.S. State Department official, Alberto Fernandez, director of public diplomacy in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, who said the United States had shown "arrogance" and "stupidity" in Iraq.
State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack said the quote is not an accurate reflection of what was said in the interview.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
