Thunderous explosions and dense black smoke swirled through the center of Baghdad Monday when at least 2 car bombs tore through a crowded marketplace, setting off dozens of secondary explosions and killing at least 71 people, police said. Another bombing nearby killed at least 9 and wounded 19. The blasts came shortly after a 15-minute period of commemoration for the first anniversary of the bombing of Samarra's Shiia Golden Dome shrine. The attacks also came despite US and Iraqi forces' much-publicized security operation.

About 16,000 demonstrators flooded the main street of the southern city of Karbala, 50 miles south of Baghdad, marching toward Shia shrines there. Participants rallied with placards reading, “No to terrorism” and “Iraqis are one people, whether Shia or Sunni.” Hundreds of policemen guarded the area, and no violence was reported.

Main Source: Associated Press