As Iraqi and U.S. forces prepared an offensive against rebels in Baghdad, two suicide bombers in Hilla killed 16 people -- many of them police officers -- and wounded 35 others Monday. The bombers, who were wearing explosive vests, detonated themselves at about 9:10 a.m. (1:10 a.m. EDT), CNN quoted authorities as saying. One of the bombers blew up outside the Hilla governor's office, the other near the Babil health center where police recruits were standing in line for their physical examinations. The two government buildings are located about 150 feet (50 meters) apart from each other. Hilla is located about 60 miles (100 km) south of the Iraqi capital. --MORE 1057 Local Time 0757 GMT
