The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a bombing Saturday east of Baghdad, according to a statement posted on an IS-affiliated website. The attack killed at least 21 people and wounded at least 42 others, according to Iraqi police and hospital officials. The IS statement described the attack as a three-ton truck bombing.

The attack targeted Shiite civilians shopping in an open-air market selling fruit, vegetables and meat in Nahrawan, according to Iraq’s Interior Ministry. The IS statement and initial reports from local officials at the scene claimed the bombing targeted Shiite pilgrims walking to Baghdad’s holy Kadhimiyah shrine.

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Ukraine’s government has agreed a new truce with pro-Russian insurgents, which is set to take effect on Orthodox Easter weekend. The ceasefire comes amidst reports that fighting has reached levels not seen for months.

An agreement has been reached to halt violence in eastern Ukraine - at least until May 9, announced the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on Friday.

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The armed movements in Sudan are willing to lay down their arms for another six months, their leaders announced. The past half year witnessed no less fighting between the rebels and Sudan Armed Forces in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

The rebel leaders have asked African Union mediatiors to facilitate negotiations with the Sudanese government to put a cessation of hostilities into action.

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The Syrian military is reportedly readying for an assault on the city of Aleppo.

“The large scale operation to wipe out the militancy in Aleppo province is expected to start in the next ten days,” Syrian military sources cited by Iran’s Fars news said on Thursday. “Fresh recruits in large groups are heading to Aleppo from the coastal province of Latakia.”

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An airstrike that hit a hospital in Syria killed 27 people, including children and one of the last few pediatricians in Aleppo, rights groups said.

Al Quds field hospital was hit by a missile from a fighter jet Wednesday, witnesses said. It’s unclear whom the fighter jet belonged to.

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