(March 12, 2006)—Sunday was another deadly day in Iraq, with Baghdad's Sadr City slum bearing the brunt of it.

Police say at least 37 people were killed and 95 were wounded in car bombings and mortar attacks in the Shiite slum.

Two car bombs exploded at a market shortly before sundown, and were followed by four mortar rounds.

Elsewhere, police say a roadside bomb targeting a police patrol on a busy street in a mostly Sunni area of Baghdad killed at least six people and wounded 12.

Across the city, drive-by shooters killed three people in a car.

A rocket landed near a house, killing one occupant and injuring two others.

About 20 miles south of Baghdad, gunmen ambushed and killed a police major as he headed to work.

Iraqi leaders say the new parliament will convene earlier because of continuing violence.

The first session of the new parliament will be held on Thursday, three days earlier than planned.

Iraq’s Kurdish president and a Shiite leader made the announcement after a 90-minute meeting with the U.S. ambassador.

The Iraqi leaders also say that meetings will continue in an effort to overcome the deadlock over forming a new government.

The U.S. ambassador says a permanent government needs to be in place quickly because of the continuing violence.