At Least 112 Killed in Baghdad Blasts

With a March election on the horizon, trouble brews in Iraq. From The Washington Post:

"A series of bombings apparently targeting educational facilities and other crowded areas killed scores of people Tuesday morning in Baghdad.

Authorities said at least 112 people were killed and 425 were wounded. At least five bombings were reported, with the explosives detonating minutes apart, starting about 10:15 a.m.

The violence marred a week during which the government had hoped two positive developments — the passing of an election law on Sunday and the upcoming auction of oil field contracts to foreign companies — would dominate headlines. Iraq's three-member presidential council voted Tuesday to schedule parliamentary elections March 6, a seven-week delay from the original date, after months of wrangling over how the balloting will work.

Iraqi and American officials say insurgents probably will try to continue attacks in the months leading up to the elections."

Read more on the bombings at WashingtonPost.com