Iraqi officials say a car bomb attack in central Baghdad has killed at least 23 people and wounded more than 65.
The Monday morning blast in the Baab al-Muadham neighborhood damaged an office for a Shi'ite religious affairs foundation that manages religious and cultural sites. It was the deadliest single attack in months in the Iraqi capital.
Later Monday, a blast struck near the main office for Sunni religious affairs. No one was hurt in that blast.
A series of attacks in Baghdad last week killed 17 people.
The spike in violence coincides with a ratcheting-up of months-long political tensions in which several political parties have called for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to be unseated.
Violence in Iraq has declined dramatically since its peak in 2006 and 2007, but attacks remain common.
The Monday morning blast in the Baab al-Muadham neighborhood damaged an office for a Shi'ite religious affairs foundation that manages religious and cultural sites. It was the deadliest single attack in months in the Iraqi capital.
Later Monday, a blast struck near the main office for Sunni religious affairs. No one was hurt in that blast.
A series of attacks in Baghdad last week killed 17 people.
The spike in violence coincides with a ratcheting-up of months-long political tensions in which several political parties have called for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to be unseated.
Violence in Iraq has declined dramatically since its peak in 2006 and 2007, but attacks remain common.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
