An Iraqi weeps as he walks away from the ministries of justice and labour following a suicide bombing on October 25, 2009.

President Barack Obama has denounced Sunday's twin suicide bombings in Baghdad that killed about 150 people and wounded some 500 others as "outrageous attacks" that "reveal the hateful and destructive agenda of those who would deny the Iraqi people the future that they deserve." Mr. Obama spoke with Iraq's president and prime minister by telephone following the attacks.

In a White House statement, President Obama said the bombings "serve no purpose other than the murder of innocent men, women and children." He said the United States will "stand with Iraq's people and government as a close friend and partner, as Iraqis prepare for elections early next year, continue to take responsibility for their future, and build greater peace and opportunity."

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also released a statement on Sunday, expressing her condolences to the victims of what she called "savage attacks" at the Iraqi Ministry of Justice and the headquarters of the Baghdad Provincial Assembly. Clinton said the United States will "stand by all Iraqis, at this crucial time leading up to national elections, and we pledge to join them in working together to combat all forms of violence and attempts at intimidation."

The White House said Obama spoke to Iraq's president, Jalal Talabani, and prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, about nine hours after the suicide bombings, which killed 136 people. The blasts struck near the Justice Ministry and city government offices in downtown Baghdad. They were the worst attacks in more than two years and came ahead of national elections in January.

On CBS television's "Face the Nation" program, Republican Senator John McCain was asked whether Iraqi security forces are capable of handling these types of attacks, as U.S. military forces reduce their presence in Iraq. "I think it's a terrible tragedy. I think it's also significant that they [i.e., Iraqi security forces] have a ways to go. But I agree with [Army] General [Ray] Odierno that these attacks will continue, but they're not sustainable. The majority of the people are opposed to them, and the Iraqi military will be able to handle this transition. But it's not going to be without tragedies such as we've seen," he said.

McCain, the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was asked whether the timeline for withdrawing U.S. combat forces from Iraq within the next year might need to be revised in the wake of the latest attacks. "There will continue to be outbreaks of this sectarian violence. It's extremists trying to ignite sectarian violence is what's going on. But they [i.e., Iraqi security forces] still have a ways to go. But it's not going to require any delay in the withdrawal of U.S. troops," he said.

In August, attackers targeted Iraq's ministries of finance and foreign affairs. Those truck bombs killed more than 100 people and wounded 500 others. Al-Qaida claimed responsibility for those blasts. Violence in Iraq has dropped significantly during the past year, but insurgents continue to stage sporadic attacks on security forces and civilians.

The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Baghdad says that hours after the explosions, rescue workers were still sifting through the rubble and the wreckage, looking for bodies and survivors.

Hospitals struggled to deal with the wounded as ambulances brought in more and more casualties.

After Mr Maliki visited the scene he blamed al-Qaeda and supporters of former president Saddam Hussein.

"These cowardly terrorist attacks must not affect the determination of the Iraqi people to continue their struggle against the remnants of the dismantled regime and al-Qaeda terrorists," he said.

Overall, violence has dropped dramatically in Iraq compared to a year ago, although sporadic attacks still continue in several parts of the country.

But our correspondent says there are fears that violence may increase as the country heads towards parliamentary elections scheduled for the beginning of next year.

The bombs went off as senior politicians were met in central Baghdad to try to break the deadlock over a draft law that would enable elections to take place in January.

The meeting ended without agreement, but will re-convene on Monday.

Last week the Iraqi parliament failed to meet a deadline to pass the legislation because of differences on a number of issues, among them whether to tell voters which candidates are on the party lists.

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