At least 43 people were killed Wednesday, when three car bombs exploded in close succession in central Baghdad. Nearly 80 other people were wounded.
Police say two car bombs exploded within minutes of each other at a major bus station, that services cities in mainly Shi'ite southern Iraq. A short time later, a suicide bomber detonated his explosives outside a nearby hospital as the wounded were arriving for treatment.
Wednesday's violence comes as political leaders resume negotiations to try to hammer out a draft constitution.
Negotiators took a one-day break in talks after missing Monday's draft deadline. Parliament has voted an extension until midnight August 22. If there is no document by then, the interim constitution dictates that parliament and the government must be dissolved and new elections held.
