An error correction system includes an iterative code that employs an interleaved component code and an embedded parity component code. In some embodiments, on the transmission side, input signals received at an input node are encoded based on the interleaved code, which encodes an interleaved version of the input data to produce a first set of codewords. At least a portion of the first set of codewords preferably is divided into a plurality of symbols which are encoded based on the embedded parity code to provide encoded data. Similarly, in some embodiments, on the receiving side, received data are detected to produce detected information and soft outputs. The detected information is decoded based on the embedded parity code to obtain decoded information. The decoded information preferably is used, together with other soft information, by an interleaved decoder to generate reliability metrics for biasing a subsequent decoding iteration.