Bombing, shooting kill 7 people in Iraq

Iraqi authorities say a bombing near a pastry shop and a separate shooting have killed seven people in the capital.
Police officials say the car bomb went off today night near al-Farasha pastry shop in the southeastern New Baghdad district, killing five people and wounding 13 others, including women and children.
Also in southeastern Baghdad, gunmen in a speeding car opened fire randomly on pedestrians in the neighborhood of Garage al-Amana, killing two people and wounding five others, said police.
Medics in a nearby hospital confirmed the causalities. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief journalists.

Violence has escalated in Iraq over the past year, particularly since late last month after authorities dismantled a Sunni anti-government protest camp and arrested a Sunni lawmaker.