Deadly Car Bombs Hit Central Iraq

A resident stands near burned vehicles after a car-bomb attack in Baghdad's Kadhimiyah district on February 8.

Security and medical officials say that several car bomb blasts in Baghdad and central Iraq have killed 31 people and injured dozens.

Reports say 16 people were killed and more than 40 wounded on February 8 in twin explosions at Baghdad's bird market, which is located in the predominantly Shi'ite neighborhood of Kadhimiyah.

Another 15 people were killed in two car bomb explosions in a vegetable market in Hilla, in the predominantly Shi'ite province of Babil, south of Baghdad.

The attacks are the latest in an upsurge of violence in Iraq.

The majority Shi'ite country has been struck by waves of car bombs and suicide attacks in recent weeks.

The attacks appear to be linked to a political crisis and weeks of protests in Sunni-majority areas calling for the ouster of Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Based on reporting AFP and AP