Bombings and shootings in Iraq kill 82 people

A SERIES of bombings and shootings have killed 82 people in Iraq.

The violence in 12 Iraqi cities and towns appeared coordinated with blasts taking place within hours of each other.

The attacks came days after the al Qaida leader in Iraq said it was to retake areas it had retreated from.

The blasts mostly struck security forces and government officials.

The worst attack happened in the town of Taji, 12 miles from the capital. Bombs planted around five houses in the Sunni town exploded an hour after dawn, killing 17.

Police who rushed to the scene to help were hit by a suicide bomber in the crowd, killing another 11.

And in an attack on Iraq’s military, three carloads of gunmen pulled up at an army base near the town of Udaim and started firing at forces – killing 13 soldiers.

The overall toll made it the deadliest day in Iraq since US troops left in mid-December.