In Iraq, the death toll from a pair of bombings in Baghdad Tuesday has reached at least sixty-eight, with dozens more wounded. At least sixty people were killed after a suicide bomber attacked an army recruitment center in central Baghdad. Amidst the attacks, the US military held a ceremony to hand over partial control of the Balad military base to the Iraqi armed forces. US Major General Craig Franklin called the transfer a milestone toward an eventual US withdrawal.

US Maj. Gen. Craig Franklin: “Today’s ceremony marks a truly historic moment. It recognizes the first presence of any Iraqi security force unit on Joint Base Balad. This is another level of partnership and the first step of many steps leading up to the turnover of this base to the government of Iraq as the United States forces withdraw by December 31st of 2011.”

The US says it’s on pace to withdraw over 14,000 soldiers by the end of the month. Last week, Iraq’s top military officer stirred controversy after saying he wants US troops to stay in Iraq for the next decade, despite a withdrawal timetable for the end of next year.