Iraq says 20,000 Saddam Hussein-era army officers will rejoin the military after being dismissed from their posts after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion for serving under the former dictator

BAGHDAD Iraq says 20,000 Saddam Hussein-era army officers will rejoin the military after being dismissed from their posts after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion for serving under the former dictator.Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Askari said Friday the reinstatement will begin immediately.The move comes just over a week before national elections the U.S. hopes will help bring together Iraq’s rival religious factions.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other Shiite politicians have been criticized for unfairly targeting former members of Saddam’s ruling Baath Party.Rival Sunni lawmaker Maysoun Damlouji says the reinstatement is a blatant ploy by al-Maliki to win more votes on March 7. (AP)

BAGHDAD Iraq's parliament is asking security officials to appear before a special session

Iraq's parliament

BAGHDAD  Iraq’s parliament is asking security officials to appear before a special session to answer questions over security lapses that allowed bombers to strike government sites.The spokesman for the parliament speaker says lawmakers want Iraq’s ministers of defense and interior to appear at Thursday’s session, called over the attacks the previous day that killed at least 127 people.

It was the third large-scale attack against prominent government buildings in the Iraqi capital since August.Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani agreed Wednesday to attend the session under one condition. A statement from his office said al-Bolani would appear only if the session isn’t held behind closed doors.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is also expected to attend the session.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below. An Iraqi police official says a bomb hidden in a garbage heap has killed two people in northern Baghdad.

The official says the blast occurred Wednesday at about 8 a.m. as street sweepers were cleaning in the Sunni neighborhood of Azamiyah. He says two street sweepers were killed and three passers-by were wounded.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information.The explosion comes a day after a series of bombings targeted government buildings in Baghdad, killing at least 127 people and wounding more than 500.Lawmakers have called top security officials to appear in parliament to answer questions over security lapses.Meanwhile, funerals were starting in Baghdad for the bombing victims.