WORLD BRIEFING / IRAQ

Bombings and shootings killed more than 30 people across Iraq, including high school students on their way to final exams, part of a new round of violence ahead of next week’s deadline for U.S. troops to withdraw from urban areas.

The attacks pushed the three-day Iraqi death toll over 100, shattering a recent lull and adding fresh doubt over the ability of government forces to protect people without U.S. soldiers by their sides. American combat troops have already begun moving from inner-city outposts to large bases outside Baghdad and other cities.

Overall levels of violence remain low, but Iraqi officials have warned that militants may carry out more attacks to erode confidence in the government as the U.S. pulls out of cities by June 30 -- the first step toward a full withdrawal.