Iraqi authorities say a suicide bomber struck a Shi'ite mosque in Baghdad shortly before Friday prayers, killing at least 10 people and injuring more than 20 others. Police say the bomber walked into the mosque as vehicle traffic was banned during prayer hours. The same mosque was hit on April seventh with a triple suicide bombing that killed more than 70 people.
In a separate incident Friday, a mortar barrage slammed into a commercial area of northern Baghdad, killing two people and wounding 16 others.
The attacks took place despite a massive security clampdown in the capital ordered by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in an effort to stem sectarian violence and attacks by al-Qaida insurgents. Tens of thousands of Iraqi and U.S. -led coalition troops have been deployed in the city since Wednesday.