Sunni Bloc in Iraq Threatens Boycott

Various blocs -- Sunni and Shiite -- have at times boycotted the cabinet and parliament, citing various complaints with Maliki's government.

At a match in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Iraq's soccer team won in dramatic fashion Wednesday, beating South Korea 4-3 on penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie to earn its first-ever trip to the Asian Cup final. Iraq will play Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Immediately after the game, tens of thousands of people rushed into the streets, firing weapons into the air despite military warnings not to shoot. The celebrations began peacefully, but two car bombs left at least 50 revelers dead while five others were killed by the celebratory gunfire.

The first bomb exploded near a popular ice cream parlor in the Mansour neighborhood of western Baghdad, killing at least 30 people and injuring 80. About 30 minutes later, another car bomb detonated in a crowd of cheering fans in the Ghadeer neighborhood on the east side of the city, killing at least 20 and injuring 65 others.

In an attempt to minimize violence, police closed bridges and blocked traffic into Karrada, the largely Shiite district downtown that became the center of the celebration. Still, the streets were choked with crowds of shirtless young men, chanting, singing, waving Iraqi flags and shooting off firecrackers.

As a U.S. convoy passed, the crowds surged toward the Humvees, making obscene gestures and screaming at the soldiers. Near one of the city's few remaining liquor stores, gangs of young men fought each other in the streets, and the sound of gunfire echoed between the buildings.

Staff writer Steve Fainaru and special correspondents Saad al-Izzi and Dalya Hassan contributed to this report.