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Suicide car bombs struck Iraqi police and Kurdish militiamen in Baghdad and northern Iraq on Saturday, killing at least 16 people and wounding dozens, while four U.S. soldiers died in separate attacks, again demonstrating the lethal reach of Iraq's insurgency just weeks ahead of crucial elections. The U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. John Abizaid, acknowledged that the country's homegrown forces aren't yet up to the task of ensuring secure elections, requiring the planned increase in U.S. troops. More than 42 Iraqis have been killed in the last two days alone. But U.N. special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi criticized the military's hardline approach to the insurgency and said credible elections cannot be held Jan. 30 under the current conditions. Meanwhile, the insurgents pursued their deadly campaign against American troops and Iraqi security forces. Two U.S. soldiers were killed by roadside bombs in Baghdad and near Baqouba Saturday, and two other American soldiers were killed and four wounded when their patrol came under attack in the northern city of Mosul. Also Saturday in Mosul, a suicide bomber exploded his vehicle alongside a bus carrying Kurdish militiamen in the city, killing at least nine people, including seven militiamen and two passers-by, and wounding nine more, officials said. Along with Iraq's majority Shiites, Kurds back the upcoming elections, and the bombing may have been an attempt to drag them into a civil war. [more] and [more]

More than 30 Iraqis Killed in Past Two Days [more]