Shia market in Baghdad targeted by car bombers

As part of the continuing surge of sectarianism, at least 29 people are killed when bombers attack a largely Shia area of the capital.

Two explosions at a market in a Shia area of Northern Baghdad [2] killed at least 16 people and wounded 43 others on Friday, according to media reports.

A second attack on the same day, occuring in the Southern predominently-Shia province of Babil, killed 13 people and wounded 47 others. The total death toll was 29 although reports suggest the number could rise.

The bombings mark a continued deterioration of security in Iraq [3], where sectarian tensions have risen in the last few months. The Shia-led government has been accused by the Sunni minority of marganlizing them [4], using new anti-terror laws.

The government has blamed Sunni militants [5] for much of the recent violence and ministers have warned that al-Qaeda's presence is on the rise.

The markets targeted were particularly busy as many Iraqis do their shopping on a Friday.

A destroyed car lies at the scene of an explosion at the bird market in the north Baghdad Shia neighborhood of Kadhimiyah. (AFP PHOTO/ ALI AL-SAADI)