Iraqi officials say bombings in Baghdad, town south of Iraqi capital killed 8 people

BAGHDAD – Iraqi officials say bombings in Baghdad and in a town south of the Iraqi capital have killed eight people.

Police officials say a bombing Friday near shops in the town of Madain, just south of Baghdad, left three people dead and wounded eight. Also in Madain, a bomb struck a checkpoint manned by pro-government Sunni militiamen, killing two fighters and wounding five.

The officials say a bomb blast in a commercial street in eastern Baghdad killed three people. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to reporters.

Police said two bodies with gunshot wounds to the head and chest were found in eastern Baghdad. Dead bodies left in the street were a common occurrence during the sectarian violence that engulfed Iraq several years ago.