LOS ANGELES, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- "No Country for Old Men," Joel and Ethan Coen's adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel, won four Oscars in Los Angeles Sunday, including best picture.

The film, which co-starred Javier Bardem, Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin, beat out "Atonement," "Juno," "Michael Clayton" and "There Will Be Blood" for the top prize.

Moments before "No Country" was named best picture, the Coen brothers picked up the prize for best director. They also earned the award for best adapted screenplay, while Bardem won for best supporting actor.

"I think whatever success we've had in this area has been entirely attributable to how selective we are," Joel Coen said upon accepting the Oscar for best adapted screenplay. "We've only adapted Homer and Cormac McCarthy. So, thank you."

The Homer reference was to the epic poem, "The Odyssey," which loosely formed the basis for the Coen brothers' 2000 film, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

Daniel Day-Lewis won the best actor prize for "There Will Be Blood" and Marion Cotillard won for best actress for "La Vie En Rose."

Tilda Swinton won best supporting actress for "Michael Clayton."

Diablo Cody won the best original screenplay prize for "Juno."

Bombings kill five Iraqi police, others

BAGHDAD, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- At least 11 people -- including several police officials -- were killed in violence in Iraq Monday, police said.

At least three Shiite pilgrims were killed in southern Baghdad when a roadside bomb detonated as the convoy of pilgrims was heading to Karbala to mark the anniversary of the death of Imam Al-Hussein, KUNA, the Kuwaiti news agency, reported Monday.

In Samara, a police officer died in a suicide bombing when a disabled man in a wheelchair blew himself up in the police station, CNN reported. A police official said the man came to meet with Brig. Gen. Abdul Jabbar Rabei Muttar, deputy commander of security, at the security operations building.

At least seven Iraqis, including several police officers, were killed in Mosul in two separate attacks, KUNA reported.

Police said militants opened fire on a patrol, killing four police officers and wounding three others, KUNA reported. A mortar shell killed three and wounded four civilians.

In Kirkuk, police chief Brigadier Sarhad Qader escaped injury when a roadside explosive device detonated as his convoy passed, KUNA reported.

Also in Kirkuk, Iraqi police and U.S.-led Multi-National Force - Iraq soldiers carried out a military operation, making 18 arrests.

Suicide bombing kills three

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- A suicide bombing in Rawalpindi Monday killed at least three people, including the Pakistani army's top surgeon, government officials said.

The bomber reportedly rammed his car into a military vehicle in a garrison area of the city, the BBC reported.

The incident is the second attack against military medical personnel this year, and the first since last week's elections, the British broadcaster said. A suicide bombing struck a military bus in Rawalpindi on Feb. 4, killing at least six people.

Gaza site of rally against Israeli embargo

GAZA, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- A human chain of Palestinian women and children lined roads in the Gaza Strip Monday to protest Israel's economic embargo, it was reported.

Organizers said the hundreds-strong human chain kicked off a protest involving an estimated 50,000 people, Haaretz reported. The march was expected to extend the length of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, from the Rafah border to the Erez crossing.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he was unaware of a threatened influx of Palestinian protesters from Gaza, adding that Israeli security forces were prepared.

Hamas leaders said they would violate the Israeli embargo, hours before the planned rally, Haaretz said.

There were conflicting reports about whether the demonstrators would attempt to breach the fence and enter Israeli territory, with one Hamas leader saying the organization's security forces were instructed to prevent any border crossing, Israel Radio reported.

Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri, while not saying the fence would be breached, said, "Our people will not allow the continuation of this situation regardless of the results, and we will work to break the siege by all possible means. We hold (Israeli leaders) responsible for any harm to the participants in these peaceful demonstrations.

Wintry storms could create travel snafus

CHICAGO, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- A winter storm moving through the U.S. midsection threatened air travelers with a potentially delay-filled start to the week, weather forecasters said.

Rain, low-hanging clouds in the morning were expected to yield to snow and ice Monday for Chicago -- conditions that portend delays at O'Hare International Airport, USA Today reported. The expected delays at one of the nation's busiest hubs could have a domino effect at other airports around the United States.

Wind and light snow are forecast to persist into Tuesday evening, possibly dragging out Chicago's chances of delays and cancellations through Tuesday, the newspaper said.

The storm was predicted to head east throughout Monday and into Tuesday, potentially socking in airports along its path. By the time it hits the East Coast, the storm was expected to be carrying winds, low clouds and heavy rains into New York, New Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania.

The wintry mix also was expected to affect a number of airports along the Great Lakes region.