Merchants check the damage at al-Rasheed grocery market in the predominantly Sunni neighborhood of Dora in southern Baghdad, 18 Jan 2007

Iraqi officials say a series of bombings and shootings in Baghdad have killed at least 19 people, as violence in the city continues to surge.

Officials say the worst attack was a triple bombing of a market in the Dora district that killed 10 people Thursday and wounded about 30 more.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Mailki is pledging to crack down on both Sunni insurgents and Shi'ite militias, including the Mahdi Army of his ally, Moqtada al-Sadr.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Mr. Maliki said Iraqi security forces this week detained 400 Mahdi Army militiamen.

He also said if supplied with sufficient equipment and training, his security forces can stabilize Iraq enough to allow U.S. forces to begin pulling out in three to six months.

The Iraqi prime minister also disputed President Bush's remarks broadcast Tuesday that the execution of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein "looked like it was kind of revenge."

Mr. Maliki said Saddam had been treated with greater respect than the former leader had treated his opponents.

On Wednesday, at least 25 people were killed and more than 70 wounded in separate attacks in Baghdad's mainly Shi'ite Sadr City district and the northern city of Kirkuk. More than 100 people were killed in attacks around the capital Tuesday.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.