Baghdad, June 3, SPA -- Insurgents killed 49 people in aseries of rapid-fire attacks, including four suicide carbombings across northern Iraq and a drive-by shooting at abusy Baghdad market that ratcheted up the bloody campaignto undermine Iraq's government. Iraq's Interior Minister Bayan Jabr, meanwhile, onThursday claimed the government offensive seeking to rootout rebels in Baghdad had scored big gains, saying thisweek's sweep by Iraqi soldiers and police captured 700suspected insurgents and killed 28 militants. Iraqi and U.S. forces have stepped up operations to answeran insurgent onslaught that has killed at least 825 peoplesince Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari announced hisCabinet five weeks ago, but militants staged deadly attacksacross a swath of northern Iraq, according to a report of the Associated Press.--SPA1126 Local Time 0826 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/267133