Updated at 10:27 p.m. EDT, Aug. 17, 2010
A large blast killed and wounded dozens at an army center in Baghdad, while another explosion left more casualties. Overall, at least 81 Iraqis were killed and 178 more were wounded across the country. Eight other attacks targeting judges were also reported. U.S. officials said the drawdown would continue despite the violence.
In Baghdad, a suicide bomber wearing an army uniform detonated his explosives as a large crowd gathered for the last day of recruitment at an army center in Bab al-Muadham. At least 61 were killed and 125 more were injured in the attack. Baghdad security chief Qassim Atta claimed the bomber was not an Iraqi. The bomber was described as green-eyed and longhaired, and there may have been a second bomber. Many of the recruits lost their documents in the chaos, some ventured back to find them. Another bombing at a petro station left 10 dead and 46 wounded in the Ur neighborhood.
Separately, the cassation court head judge was wounded in a sticky bomb attack in Yarmouk. Gunmen in Amiriya killed an auditor working for the trade ministry. At least two judges were killed either in Baghdad or Diyala during one or more of eight attacks against judges.
Four people were wounded, including three judges, in a bombing in Balad Ruz. The fourth man was a policeman accompanying the group as they made their way to court. The four are in serious condition.
In Mosul, two bullet-riddled bodies were discovered. Gunmen killed a prison guard. A policeman was killed just outside town.
A sheikh was killed in a small arms attack Fallujah. A subsequent clash wounded two policemen.
Two policemen were killed in Kirkuk. Four suspects were captured in unrelated raids.
Security forces arrested several suspects accused of boarding several ships off the coast and robbing them.
