In Iraq, 66 people were killed in attacks in more than a dozen cities across the nation. The attacks took place in 17 cities and wounded more than 230 people. Parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi condemned the attacks and blamed security leaders for unspecified violations.In Kut, 40 were killed and 65 wounded in twin blasts.Medical and security officials said a roadside bomb in the centre of Kut at 8:00 am local time was followed minutes later by a nearby car bomb. In Tikrit, three policemen were killed and at least seven were wounded when two suicide bombers blew up their explosives-packed vests inside the city's anti-terror headquarters. In the restive province of Diyala, eight people were killed and 35 wounded in a series of attacks in provincial capital Baquba and five other cities.Four of the dead were soldiers gunned down at an Iraqi army checkpoint in Baquba.