Bombs rock Baghdad during Blair's visit

BAGHDAD, May 19 (UPI) -- At least 28 people were killed Saturday in separate incidents in Iraq, including 25 Kurds who died when insurgents attacked their villages.

The Kurdish civilians died when insurgents dressed as police officers attacked homes and businesses in the northern Kirkuk province of Mandali, reported KUNA, the Kuwait news agency.

In Baghdad, a suicide car bomber killed an Iraqi soldier and two civilians at the Jordan Crossroad in Al-Yamrouk district in western Baghdad, KUNA said.

Explosions rocked Baghdad during what was likely to be Tony Blair's final visit to Iraq as British prime minister.

Three explosions hit the heavily fortified Green Zone within hours of Blair's arrival for meetings with his Iraqi counterpart, Nuri al-Maliki, and President Jalal Talabani, CNN reported. One person was injured.

It was not immediately known if Blair was near the explosions. He steps down as prime minister on June 27.