27 Days

That's all that's left until elections in Iraq.

Today:

Three suicide car bombs, including one that exploded near the Iraqi prime minister's party headquarters in Baghdad, and a roadside explosion killed at least 16 people today as insurgents pressed their deadly campaign to disrupt national elections, which Iraq's defense minister said could be postponed to give the Sunni minority time to participate.

A car bomb exploded late today near a U.S.-manned checkpoint to the Green Zone, the heavily fortified area housing the U.S. Embassy and Iraqi government offices, U.S. Embassy spokesman Bob Callahan said. U.S. troops surrounded a burning sport utility vehicle at the scene.

Three bodies were seen burning inside the destroyed vehicle. The nationalities of the victims were not immediately known.

Iraqi police Lt. Khalid Mohammed said the bomb targeted a U.S. civilian convoy and there were casualties at the checkpoint, which is the main Green Zone exit for trips to Baghdad International Airport west of the city. American contractors and diplomats commonly make the journey along the dangerous airport road in SUVs.