“Militants struck across the Iraqi capital Wednesday, killing more than 50 people, including 32 in a suicide bombing that targeted pilgrims commemorating a revered Shiite saint, Iraqi police said.

The attacks — the deadliest of which occurred in northern Baghdad’s predominantly Sunni neighborhood of Azamiyah — offered a clear indication of the push by insurgents to exploit Iraq’s political vacuum and destabilize the country as U.S. troops head home.

Police said the bloody suicide bombing that killed 32 and wounded more than 90 people, split the hot Wednesday evening air as Shiite pilgrims were about to cross a bridge leading to the a shrine in the Shiite Kazimiyah neighborhood where a revered imam is buried.

“A bomb attack on a major oil pipeline in northern Iraq has disrupted Iraqi crude oil exports sent through Turkey.

Civil defense workers are trying to put out a fire caused by the attack at al-Hadhar south of Mosul Thursday morning.

The bomb blew a hole in the pipeline. Iraqi officials say it will take several days to repair the damage and get oil flowing again.

The pipeline runs from northern Iraq to Ceyhan, Turkey, and typically carries about 420,000 barrels of crude oil per day, a quarter of Iraq’s overall output. “

(Bomb Damages Iraqi Oil Pipeline | Middle East | English)

“Seven separate explosions rocked Baghdad on Tuesday morning, killing at least 34 people and wounding 104 others, Iraq’s Interior Ministry said.

Five of the blasts took place in Shiite neighborhoods: Shulaa, Chikook, Shurta al-Rabaa, Amel and Bayaa. Another attack occurred in the mixed Saydiya neighborhood, authorities said.

At least three residential buildings, including apartments, were destroyed in the explosions.

“A coordinated attack of vehicle bombs on Monday ripped through the perimeters of three hotel compounds known for housing foreign journalists, destroying a nearby apartment building and leaving at least 36 people dead. “

The bombers hit the Sheraton Hotel compound, which also houses the Babylon Hotel; and the al-Hamra Hotel compound, where The Washington Post bureau is located. Security officials said at least 71 people were wounded. Three of the injured were Iraqi employees of the Post.

“wide-ranging plot to bomb government ministries and other public places, to be followed by a wave of political assassinations, was uncovered by Iraqi officials, who responded Tuesday by bringing much of the capital to a virtual standstill while security forces conducted raids that netted large quantities of explosives, officials said.”

At least 4 suicide car bombers — and as many as 10 — were apparently on their way to government buildings Tuesday morning when they were stopped by the police and arrested, the authorities said.