Scores die in Iraq bombings

The apparently coordinated attacks, occurring within 10 minutes of each other, were reminiscent of large-scale suicide bombings before the buildup and underscored what U.S. military officials have warned are the shifting tactics of insurgents. At least one of the attackers was a woman with explosives strapped to her. Some Iraqi police officials said women carried the bombs at both markets.

American and Iraqi officials say such methods are signs that insurgents loyal to the militant group Al Qaeda in Iraq are struggling to recruit Iraqi men, and are also finding it increasingly difficult to maneuver large vehicle-borne bombs past checkpoints. They say insurgents have been forced to resort to other types of attacks, such as the targeting of volunteer security workers who form the backbone of U.S. efforts to bolster American and Iraqi forces.

Since November, at least five women have been used to carry explosives that killed themselves and others. They include the one who hit central Baghdad's Ghazel pet bazaar Friday. An Iraqi military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Qassim Moussawi, told Iraqi television that the woman was mentally disabled and that the explosives were detonated by remote control, but he offered no proof.

The U.S. military described the assailant as a female suicide bomber.

The Associated Press reported that Iraqi officials had raised the death toll to 91 early today, but were unable to provide a casualty breakdown in the two bombings.

The increased use of suicide vests is highlighted in the U.S. military's latest statistics on Iraq's violence. In October, six such incidents were recorded. The number increased to eight in November, 10 in December and 15 in January. Vehicle-borne bombings fell each month, from 45 in October to 24 for Jan. 1 to Jan. 25, the last date included in the military report.

U.S. military and Iraqi officials note that overall attack and civilian casualty numbers are at their lowest levels since the spring of 2005. But they say the state of security still is "tenuous." Iraqis, analysts and U.S. military commanders acknowledge that Iraq could turn more violent again if the government does not make progress in easing tensions between Sunni Arabs and Shiites.