more horror in Iraq

20 die in attack on meeting west of Baghdad

BAGHDAD - A suicide bomber struck Thursday inside a municipal building west of Baghdad, killing at least 20 people at a meeting of tribal sheiks opposed to al-Qaida, police said. The U.S. confirmed American casualties but gave no further details.

Another 18 people were killed and about 60 wounded in a car bombing near a government headquarters in the northern city of Mosul, officials said. The attacks Thursday were part of a spike in violence in Iraq after weeks of relative calm.

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