(AP)
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A wave of insurgent attacks killed at least 22 people and wounded dozens in central and northern Iraq today, the latest series of persistent strikes aimed at undermining the government's authority. One of the bloodiest blows came around midday, when a car bomb struck near the local security forces headquarters in the northern city of Daqouq. As police rushed to the scene, a roadside bomb exploded, killing seven policemen. Another 35 people were hurt. The violence comes a day after militants staged attacks in northern Iraq that left 13 people dead. More than 100 people have been killed in violence across the country since the start of August.
Today's carnage began with a predawn attack against the house of a military officer. Militants planted four bombs around his house near the northern city of Kirkuk. The officer escaped unharmed, but his brother was killed and six other family members were wounded. A series of car bombs followed; and in the former insurgent stronghold of Fallujah, militants in speeding cars opened fire on a police patrol, killing four policemen and injuring three others. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the attacks bore the hallmarks of al-Qaeda's Iraqi branch.
