Iraq: Car blasts kill 21 in Baghdad

A series of car bombs in the Iraqi capital Baghdad has left at least 21 people dead.

The deadliest attack was in the mainly Shi’ite district of Shaab, in a commercial area east of the city. That explosion reportedly killed 11 and left 28 wounded.

As yet, no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks but the bombings appear to bear all the hallmarks of al-Qaeda’s ongoing campaign against Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s Shi’ite-led government.

Last year was Iraq’s bloodiest since 2008. Nearly 9,000 people were killed in sectarian violence, according to the UN.