Iraq's largest bloc of Sunni politicians suspended membership in the government Wednesday, a bid that appeared timed to deepen disenchantment in Washington with the Shiite prime minister's faltering leadership.

The dramatic political development came as two suicide car bombers killed at least 50 soccer fans celebrating Iraq's ascension to the finals of a prestigious tournament. A total of 88 people were killed or found dead nationwide, according to police, morgue and hospital officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to release information.

The Iraqi Accordance Front, which has six Cabinet seats and 44 of 275 in parliament, gave Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki a week to meet its demands or see ministers quit the 14-month-old government.

In April, five ministers loyal to radical Shiite cleric cquit the government over al-Maliki's refusal to set a timeline for American forces to leave Iraq. Should the Accordance Front ministers quit, al-Maliki's so-called national unity government would be limping along with more than a fourth of the 38 Cabinet posts vacated by protest resignations.