Nine suicide bombs rock Baghdad

The bombings took place across the capital, Baghdad

At least 16 people have been killed and almost 100 wounded in a wave of suicide bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital.

The nine attacks across Baghdad used cars and motorbikes loaded with explosives to target security forces.

Iraq's military bore the brunt, with attacks in quick succession on patrols in the north and city centre, says the BBC's Richard Galpin in Baghdad.

The attacks began when a bomber targeted a convoy in the south-east of the city. Two US soldiers were wounded.

Surge in bombings

In the worst attack of the day, a suicide bomber struck an Iraqi checkpoint in Ash-Shab, in the north of Baghdad, killing at least eight people.

Most of the dead were soldiers, officials said.

Suicide bombings are now taking place at a rapid rate after a brief lull in the last week, says our correspondent.

More than 50 people have been killed this week alone.

Friday's attacks came two days after a suicide car bomb in eastern Baghdad killed at least 26 children.

The bomber rammed his vehicle into a crowd of children collecting sweets from US soldiers.

Meanwhile, the US military says some 30 suspected militants in the al-Qaeda in Iraq group have been arrested in recent raids in Baghdad and other parts of the country.