BAGHDAD — A barrage of rockets hit a base housing U.S. and other coalition troops north of Baghdad on Saturday, Iraqi security officials said, just days after a similar attack killed three servicemen, including two Americans.

The U.S.-led coalition said at least 25 107mm rockets struck Camp Taji just before 11 a.m. Some struck the area where coalition forces are based, while others fell on air defense units, the Iraqi military statement said.

Five people were wounded in the attack, including three coalition members and two Iraqi soldiers, according to spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition Myles Caggins.

Jonathan Hoffman, chief Pentagon spokesman, said later that three U.S. service members were wounded in the Camp Taji attack. Two of them were seriously wounded and are hospitalized.

He said Iraqi security forces have made an initial arrest.

Hoffman also repeated Defense Secretary Mark Esper's comments from this month, saying, “You cannot attack and wound American service members and get away with it. We will hold them accountable.”

A statement from Iraq's military said the “brutal aggression” wounded a number of air defense personnel who remain in critical condition.

Iraqi forces later discovered seven platforms from which the rockets were in the Abu Azam area, north of Baghdad. Another 24 missiles were discovered in place and ready to launch.

The attack was unusual because it occurred in the day. Previous assaults on bases housing U.S. troops typically occurred at night.

Georgia cites outbreak fears in postponing primaries until May

ATLANTA — Georgia election officials are postponing the state's March 24 presidential primaries until May because of fears over the coronavirus.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in a statement that in-person early voting, which began statewide March 2, will be halted and the election will be moved to May 19, when Georgia's other 2020 primary elections are being held.

The action followed Republican Gov. Brian Kemp's signature of an emergency declaration that unlocked sweeping powers to fight COVID-19. Election officials said in addition to the safety of the public, one of the biggest considerations was the risk the virus posed to poll workers, who are often older.

On Friday, Louisiana became the first state to push back its presidential primaries.

US internet, wireless providers offering free Wi-Fi for 60 days

BOSTON — U.S. internet and wireless providers have announced temporary measures to make getting online less expensive and onerous as enforced social distancing due to the new coronavirus forces more human interaction online.

Most notable is Comcast's free public Wi-Fi for all for 60 days. Major metropolitan areas are thick with Comcast's Xfinity-branded hotspots.

“I don't get to say this often: Bravo Comcast!” tweeted Alex Stamos, a Stanford University internet security expert.

Home-based Xfinity hotspots are not included, said Comcast spokesman Joel Shadle, but Wi-Fi access points in public locations and at small businesses are.

AT&T and Charter Communications also announced free public Wi-Fi for 60 days.

Putin approves law that could keep him in power until 2036

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law on constitutional changes that could keep him in power for another 16 years, a step that must still be approved in a nationwide vote.

Putin signed the measure Saturday, the Kremlin said, three days after it sailed through the Russian parliament with only one vote against. It must be approved by the country's Constitutional Court and in a referendum set for April 22.

Under current law, Putin would not be able to run for president again in 2024 because of term limits, but the new measure would reset his term count. He has been in power since 2000.

Meanwhile, police have detained 49 people at a protest against political repression outside the headquarters of the Federal Security Service.

Afghan government delays release of prisoners

KABUL, Afghanistan — The Afghan government Saturday postponed the release of 1,500 Taliban prisoners, an Afghan official said, a decision that could sabotage a peace deal signed last month between the Taliban and the United States.

Jawed Faisal, spokesman for the Afghan National Security Adviser's office, said the releases were being delayed because more time was needed to review the list of prisoners. The move comes despite President Ashraf Ghani's decree a few days ago romising the start of the releases Saturday as a good will gesture to get intra-Afghan negotiations started.

The U.S.-Taliban deal was touted at the time as the best chance at ending Afghanistan's endless wars and bringing U.S. troops home after nearly 19 years.

There was no response from the Taliban to the delayed prisoner release.

Pair freed

in Mali after Dec. 2018 abduction

DAKAR, Senegal — A Canadian woman and an Italian man who had been kidnapped in December 2018 in Burkina Faso have been released in good health, according to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in neighboring Mali.

Quebec resident Edith Blais and Italian Luca Tacchetto had been traveling in the southwest of Burkina Faso when all communication with their families ended Dec. 15, 2018. Al-Qaida and Islamic State-linked groups are active in Burkina Faso.

The pair were brought Friday to a U.N. peacekeeping mission in Kidal. There they were taken in by the mission, known as MINUSMA. On Saturday, the two flew to Bamako and have met with the head of MINUSMA, Mali's president and the Canadian ambassador. It is not known who kidnapped the pair.

In Guyana: The election commission in oil-rich Guyana has declared that the governing coalition won the country's disputed vote, despite international concerns about the credibility of the process.

The commission said late Friday that it will move to verify vote totals in the March 2 general election as international observer groups said the tallying was flawed.

Coalition officials said they plan to swear in retired army Gen. David Granger, 74, on Monday to a second five-year term in office.

An observer team from the Washington-based Organization of American States said its final report in the coming weeks will reflect dissatisfaction with the voting system.