Suicide bombings in and around Iraqi capital kill 31 people

Another suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into an Iraqi army checkpoint north of Baghdad, killing at least 12 people, police said.

In an online statement, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack in the New Baghdad neighborhood, saying it targeted Shiite militia members.

The Sunni militant group often targets Iraq's Shiite majority, security forces and government officials.

In a statement, the U.N. special envoy to Iraq, Jan Kubis, described the attacks as "cowardly acts," saying they are "not only aim at inflicting a heavy toll on the civilian population, but also seek to weaken the country's unity and destroy its social fabric."