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Baghdad blast kills at least 20 Baghdad blast kills at least 20
(about 1 hour later)
A car bomb has killed at least 20 people and wounded dozens more in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, police said.A car bomb has killed at least 20 people and wounded dozens more in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, police said.
The bomb was left in a parked car at a bus terminal in the mainly Shia district of Bayaa in south-west Baghdad, officials said.The bomb was left in a parked car at a bus terminal in the mainly Shia district of Bayaa in south-west Baghdad, officials said.
The explosion tore through crowds of commuters waiting for buses during the morning rush hour. The explosion tore through crowds of commuters waiting for buses during the morning rush hour, tearing vehicles open and injuring about 40 people.
Separately, 20 headless bodies without identification were found on the banks of a stream near the Tigris river. The bomb comes amid a major security drive in and around the capital city.
The bodies - found in Nahrawan, south-east of Baghdad - appear to be those of civilians, police told the BBC. In other developments:
The bombing in Baghdad comes as US and Iraqi forces continue a big security drive in and around the capital city.
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  • Relatives of 11 Iraqis killed by US troops in the village of Khalis last week have demanded compensation, and have called for the Americans to withdraw claims the men were from al-Qaeda;
Police said about 40 vehicles, including buses, had been set alight in the explosion, which occurred at 0815 (0415 GMT).
  • Twenty headless bodies without identification have been found on the banks of a stream near the Tigris river close to Baghdad;
    • Television pictures from the scene showed blackened and twisted wreckage across a wide area.
  • Three British soldiers were killed when a roadside bomb hit their patrol in Basra, in southern Iraq. A fourth soldier was wounded.
    • Police and medical officials said between 20 and 25 people had been killed and 35-40 injured. In Baghdad, about 40 vehicles, including buses, were set alight in the latest explosion, which occurred at 0815 (0415 GMT).
    Meanwhile, three British soldiers were killed when a roadside bomb hit their patrol in Basra, in southern Iraq. A fourth soldier was wounded. Police and medical officials said between 20 and 25 people had been killed and at least 40 injured.
    'Arrowhead Ripper''Arrowhead Ripper'
    The US has poured thousands of extra troops into Baghdad and the surrounding area in an effort to curb bombings and sectarian killings.The US has poured thousands of extra troops into Baghdad and the surrounding area in an effort to curb bombings and sectarian killings.
    About 10,000 US and Iraqi troops launched operation "Arrowhead Ripper" last week, trying to flush what the US called al-Qaeda militants out of Diyala province north-east of Baghdad.About 10,000 US and Iraqi troops launched operation "Arrowhead Ripper" last week, trying to flush what the US called al-Qaeda militants out of Diyala province north-east of Baghdad.
    There has been heavy fighting in the city of Baquba, where Brig Gen Mick Bednarek of the US 25th infantry division said at least 60 suspected al-Qaeda militants had been killed.There has been heavy fighting in the city of Baquba, where Brig Gen Mick Bednarek of the US 25th infantry division said at least 60 suspected al-Qaeda militants had been killed.
    But US commanders have warned that Iraqi forces can not yet be relied on to hold territory captured from insurgents.But US commanders have warned that Iraqi forces can not yet be relied on to hold territory captured from insurgents.
    Earlier this week, the White House predicted a "difficult" summer ahead in Iraq as militants "do their very best to try to create very spectacular acts of terror".Earlier this week, the White House predicted a "difficult" summer ahead in Iraq as militants "do their very best to try to create very spectacular acts of terror".
    'Wrongful attack''Wrongful attack'
    Separately, the US military said it was investigating an incident in a village north of Baghdad last week where an American helicopter attack killed 11 men and wounded eight others after wrongly identifying them as al-Qaeda militants. Separately, the US military said it was investigating the incident last week where an American helicopter attack killed 11 men and wounded eight others believing them to be al-Qaeda militants.
    Survivors and residents of the village, Khalis, have told the BBC that all those killed and injured were guards, recognised by local authorities. Survivors and residents of the village, Khalis, to the north of Baghdad have told the BBC that all those killed and injured were guards, recognised by local authorities.
    The US military told the BBC that it considers the armed men to have been a militia conducting an offensive operation near Iraqi police. But they no longer described them as al-Qaeda.The US military told the BBC that it considers the armed men to have been a militia conducting an offensive operation near Iraqi police. But they no longer described them as al-Qaeda.
    The survivors of the attack said they were helping the police check a house believed to be used by insurgents.The survivors of the attack said they were helping the police check a house believed to be used by insurgents.
    Neither US nor Iraqi forces had been told of a local watch programme in the area, the BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says.Neither US nor Iraqi forces had been told of a local watch programme in the area, the BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says.