Bomb and mortar attacks killed at least 31 people in and near Baghdad on Saturday. In the deadliest attack, a car bomb targeting Iraqi army and police killed 11 people.
A series of explosions struck commercial areas in Baghdad on Saturday, killing at least seven people. The four explosions, all within two hours, reflected a new blow to a huge security crackdown by the Iraqi government to secure the capital.
The first attack in the capital reported shortly before 10 a.m.. when a mortar shell was fired at one of Baghdad's oldest markets in the Shiite suburb of Kazimiyah, Capt. Mohammed al-Waili said. According to the AP, he said at least four people died and 13 injured.
About a half hour later, a bomb left in a plastic bag struck an outdoor market for secondhand goods, killing two civilians and wounding 24, some seriously, police Lt. Ahmed Mohamed Ali said.
A roadside bomb also missed a police patrol about 10:40 a.m. in Karradah, a popular shopping area in downtown Baghdad, killing one civilian and wounding two, police Col. Abbas Mohammed said.
About 20 minutes later, a parked car bomb targeted an Iraqi army patrol near the Wathiq Square in the same neighborhood, killing one soldier and injuring 10 people, including two civilians, police Lt. Ali Mitab said.
Elsewhere, a suicide car bomber exploded his vehicle as it was being towed near a police checkpoint, killing seven civilians, said Capt. Rashid al-Samarie. He said the bomber claimed his car had broken down and hired a tractor to tow it while he rode inside.
The attack happened in the city of Mahmoudiya, 20 miles south of Baghdad, which was also hit by a mortar barrage that killed one civilian and wounded three others, all from the same family, al-Samarie said.
Meanwhile, a soldier in the U.S.-led forces also was killed Friday and two others were missing after an attack on a checkpoint near the town of Youssifiyah, 12 miles south of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.
