A suicide bomber killed 35 people at a police recruiting centre today as Iraq's prime minister announced a cabinet reshuffle in an apparent response to his government's failure to rein in sectarian violence.
The blast, claimed by an al Qaeda-linked Sunni militant group, also wounded 58 people when a bomber wearing an explosive vest walked into a crowd of young men lining up outside a police commando recruiting centre in Baghdad.
It was the bloodiest attack in months against recruits hoping to join Iraq's fledgling security forces, a key part of Washington's plan for an eventual withdrawal of its troops.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who heads a six-month-old unity government of Shia, Sunnis and ethnic Kurds, told a closed session of parliament he was unhappy about their performance and announced sweeping changes in the cabinet.
"The Prime Minister called for a complete ministerial reshuffle in accordance with the current situation," his office said in a statement.
News of a cabinet reshuffle, which could include changes in the key Interior and Defence portfolios, comes at a delicate time for Washington, which has 150,000 troops in Iraq.
US President George W. Bush's top generals are preparing recommendations for a shift in strategy following a defeat for his Republicans at Congressional elections last Tuesday.
Maliki, a Shia, had said previously he wanted several ministers changed but appeared to have run into opposition from major coalition parties as the government struggles to halt sectarian violence, economic collapse and massive corruption.
Sunni Arab leaders in Maliki's coalition have threatened to abandon government after accusing him of failing to rein in pro-government Shia militias blamed for sectarian killings that have pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war.
"The government's performance has been unconvincing," said the Shia deputy speaker Khaled al-Attiya, who chaired the closed session. "That's why the prime minister wishes to change the cabinet. What we want now is to develop its performance."
Parliament took no vote, chamber officials said, adding that Maliki gave no details on what changes he might make.