Tuesday, December 8, 2009 1:12 PM

BAGHDAD -- A series of bombings apparently targeting educational facilities and other crowded areas killed scores of people Tuesday morning in Baghdad.

Authorities said at least 112 people were killed and 425 were wounded. At least five bombings were reported, with the explosives detonating minutes apart, starting about 10:15 a.m.

The violence marred a week during which the government had hoped two positive developments -- the passing of an election law on Sunday and the upcoming auction of oil field contracts to foreign companies -- would dominate headlines. Iraq's three-member presidential council voted Tuesday to schedule parliamentary elections March 7, a seven-week delay from the original date, after months of wrangling over how the balloting will work.

Iraqi and American officials say insurgents probably will try to continue attacks in the months leading up to the elections.

One bomb on Tuesday apparently targeted a courthouse in Mansour district, in central Baghdad. Another bombing was reported near Mustansiriya University, one of the country's most prominent colleges. Another one, in Waziryia, detonated close to the Judicial Institute, a complex where judges are trained.

In the southwestern neighborhood of Dora, a suicide bombing was reported at a technical institute for engineers.

Plumes of smoke rose over the capital, darkening an already overcast, chilly day. American Apache helicopters buzzed above the targeted areas as Iraqi emergency vehicles rushed from the bomb sites to hospitals.

The bombings appeared to be the latest in a series of coordinated attacks carried out by the Sunni insurgent group al-Qaeda in Iraq. They underscored the relative ease with which insurgents continue to smuggle large amounts of explosives through the myriad checkpoints in downtown Baghdad.

The bombing near the judicial college, which is surrounded by blast walls, left a large crater in the pavement. Hours later, city workers wearing orange vests swept the street as American and Iraqi soldiers surveyed the scene. The college is near the Labor Ministry, which did not appear to sustain serious damage.

Under an overpass, police officer Mustafa Tarkish collected identity documents, school books and other items gathered from the dead and wounded. Some of the objects were bloodied, some were burnt. The rail-thin officer had an eardrum perforated by the blast and was wounded by shrapnel in his left leg. Explosions will continue, he predicted.

"Of course," he said in a quivering voice. "If the checkpoints don't search cars no one will stop this."

With many roads blocked off, thousands of Baghdadis walked for miles to get home. "It's about to become worse," said Teba Adeel, 20, a medical technician student who was at a teaching hospital when scores of victims were rushed in.

"This has become normal for us," classmate Hussein Ali, 22, added. "Ever since the fall of the regime."

Unlike coordinated bombings carried out in August and October, Tuesday's attacks did not appear directed at heavily guarded government buildings. However, one of the targets was the headquarters of the Rafaidyan Bank in downtown Baghdad, which has been used by Finance Ministry employees since an August bombing rendered the ministry's headquarters building useless.

Residents who live near the bank said the explosives were packed in a small blue pickup truck that managed to drive into a narrow alley adjacent to the building.

After the explosion, several members of a family watched silently as Iraqi soldiers sifted through a pile of debris where their two-story house once stood.

"The election is close," said Jamal Mutar. "The politicians are killing each other."

His daughter Shukaryiah Jawad, 19, was holding her 1-year-old daughter. "We need help from the government," she exclaimed. "I have nowhere to live. We're in the street now."

Nearby, two Iraqi soldiers became angry when a journalist took out a camera. "Your pictures are worthless," the soldier shouted, standing on a pile of chunks of cement. "They are only useful for our enemies to laugh at us."

His colleague then gestured for the crowd to disperse, hoisting his M-5 rifle in the air, threatening to open fire.

The civilians scattered through a narrow alley with mangled wires.

"These people are a failure," Mutar fumed. "All they want to do is cover up their failures."

Special correspondent Qais Mizher contributed to this report.

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/08/AR2009120800587_pf.html