At least 11 explosions tore through predominantly Shiite areas in and around the Iraqi capital on sunday killing at least 39 people at crowded market places, commercial districts and car repair shops, officials said.
The attacks are part of a wave of violence in Iraq since a deadly security crackdown on a Sunni protest camp in April. Since then, the bloodshed has reached heights unseen since Iraq teetered on the brink of civil war in 2006 and 2007.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday's attacks, but insurgent groups frequently target civilians in cafes and public areas of Shiite neighbourhoods in an attempt to undermine confidence in the Shiite-led government and stir up Iraq's already simmering sectarian tensions.
