Car bombs kill 13 civilians in Iraqi capital

A string of car bomb attacks hit commercial areas in Baghdad today, killing at least 13 people, Iraqi officials said.
Police officials said the deadliest attack took place when a car bomb went off near auto spare parts shops in downtown Baghdad, killing four people and wounding nine others.
Also, two car bombs exploded in the eastern neighbourhood of Jamila and the northern neighbourhood of Kazimiyah. In each at least three civilians were killed. A total of 22 civilians were wounded in these attacks.
Police added that other explosives-laden cars went off in the central Karrada area, the northern Shaab neighbourhood and the eastern Batol neighbourhood. In total, three civilians were killed and 26 wounded.

Medical officials confirmed the casualty figures. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to release information.
The bombings came a day after 34 people were killed in multiple explosions, mainly in the heart of Baghdad.
Violence has escalated in Iraq over the past year. Last year, the country saw the highest death toll since the worst of the country's sectarian bloodletting began to subside in 2007, according to United Nations figures. The UN said violence killed 8,868 people last year in Iraq.