Bombs rock Baghdad, at least 13 killed

BAGHDAD: Four bombs rocked Baghdad on Saturday, as the eyes of Iraq's government and insurgents battling it were turned to Washington, where generals have begun a re-think of strategy in the war-ravaged country.   

At least 13 people were killed across Iraq, nine of them in the capital.   

A car bomb and a roadside bomb exploded in a market in Baghdad's Hafidh al-Qadi area, killing six civilians and wounding 32 others, a security source said.   

Two more roadside bombs exploded in Baghdad, killing two and wounding five, while three Iraqis were also reported killed in Baquba, northeast of Baghdad.   

Two policemen, including an intelligence officer were also shot dead, while a Christian translator working for the US forces was abducted.   

The latest casualties were added to the list of nearly 100 Iraqis killed in the past four days, and with more than 20 US soldiers killed since the start of November.   

They come on the heels of threats from Al-Qaeda in Iraq chief Abu Hamza al-Muhajer on Friday, including one to blow up the White House. With the death toll mounting, a sweeping victory by Democrats in mid-term congressional elections and the ouster of controversial defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld, expectations have grown of a change in US strategy.   

Up to 150,000 Iraqis have been killed since the 2003 invasion, and another 2,841 US soldiers.