Iraqi officials: Wave of attacks in Shiite areas of Baghdad kills at least 34, wounds dozens

BAGHDAD - Insurgents unleashed deadly attacks Tuesday against Shiite areas in Baghdad, killing at least 34 people and wounding dozens, highlighting increasing sectarian tensions in Iraq a decade after the war began.

The morning attacks, mostly by car bombs, targeted mainly small restaurants, daily labourers and bus stops in the Iraqi capital within a one-hour period.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the attacks bore hallmarks of al-Qaida in Iraq.

The deadly wave came as the country marks a decade since the U.S.-led invasion, which began on March 20, 2003. Violence has ebbed but insurgent attacks are still frequent across Iraq.

Police officials said the first attack took place near a small restaurant in Baghdad's Mashtal neighbourhood, killing four people and wounding 15. Minutes later, two daily labourers were killed and eight were wounded when a roadside bomb hit the place where they gather every day in an area of New Baghdad.

In the neighbourhood of Sadr City, a sticky bomb attached to the underside of a minibus killed three commuters and wounded seven people. Another car bomb exploded in a commercial street in the same Shiite area, killing two people and wounding 11.

In the northeastern suburbs of Baghdad, four people were killed and eleven others wounded after a car bomb went off near a small restaurant in Hussainiyah neighbourhood.

In Zafarniyah, two car bombs exploded near a police station, killing five people, including a policeman and wounding 27, said police. In northern Baghdad, a car bomb went off near a bus stop, killing three people and wounding 13.

In downtown Baghdad, a car bomb exploded near a restaurant not far away from the well-protected green zone, killing six people, including two soldiers and wounding more than 15. In Shulla, a car bomb exploded near an outdoor market, killing five people and wounding 21.