55 Civilians killed in Baghdad today by missile

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Thunderous explosions rocked Baghdad on Friday in some of the most powerful bombardments of the Iraqi capital in days. One missile struck a market in western Baghdad on Friday afternoon, killing more than 50 people, news reports said.

Qatar-based Al-Jazeera said 55 civilians were killed Friday at the market in a residential neighborhood. Al Arabiya television said at least 52 people died. Footage showed the injured, many of them children, lying in hospital beds with their faces and heads wrapped in bandages.

The day of bombings — led by 4,700-pound, satellite-guided "bunker-busting" bombs the previous night — were aimed at disrupting communications between Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s leadership and his military, U.S. officials said.