Updated at 6:40 p.m. EST, Dec. 5, 2007

A series of bombings in several major cities rocked Iraq today. Overall, at least 31 Iraqis were killed and 70 were wounded in the latest attacks. Most of the victims were civilians. Also, three U.S. soldiers were killed in separate incidents.

During a combined IED and small arms attack, an MND-North soldier was killed today in Salah ad Din province. A similar attack yesterday killed two MND-North soldiers and wounded two more.

In Baghdad, at least 15 people were killed and 33 more were wounded during a car bombing at a Shi’ite mosque in the Karrada district; gunfire followed the explosion. Another blast wounded two policemen in the Sahet al-Nussor neighborhood. Also, four unidentified bodies were found dumped in separate locations.

A car bomb killed a civilian and wounded seven others near a police station in Mosul.

In Baquba, five people were killed and 20 others were injured during a bombing near the government office.

A roadside bomb targeting the head of civil defense in Kirkuk killed three and wounded seven as his motorcade was heading to work from the director’s home in Suleimaniya. He was among the injured. No casualties were reported when gunmen blew up a liquor store during a separate incident.

A body was found in Duluiya.

Joint U.S.-Iraqi forces arrested three people south of Kut. Near Kirkuk three more suspects were detained. Four were arrested in Wasit province.

Eight Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels were killed in southeastern Turkey.

A sheikh was killed in a drive-by shooting in Kut.

In Muqdadiyah, one policeman was killed and another injured in a drive-by shooting.

Also, the Health Ministry reported that a total of 24 people have died from Cholera since the epidemic erupted in August. Thousands more have fallen ill to the water-borne disease. Only 30% of Iraqis are thought to have access to clean water, which is key to keeping cholera in check.

Compiled by Margaret Griffis