In Baghdad, three suicide bombers detonated their explosives in three locations within 30 minutes of each other. The attacks killed at least 32 people and wounded 102 others, most of them Shiite pilgrims, an Interior Ministry official said.

It was the second day attackers have targeted Shiite pilgrims taking part in an annual march to one of the Shiites' holiest shrines.

Following Monday's attack, Kirkuk authorities imposed a curfew on the city from 3 p.m. Monday until 7 a.m. Tuesday, a police official said. All cars and pedestrian traffic will be banned, he said.

The Iraqi Islamic Party, one of the main Sunni parties, condemned the Kirkuk attack, blaming it on "sides that do not want stability in the city and are working to escalate the situation."

It said the attack comes at a "critical and sensitive time where there has been an increase in talks about the fate of Kirkuk and provincial council elections."

Nearly two dozen suicide attacks have been carried out by female bombers in 2008 - up from eight in 2007 - according to US military figures.