Iraq Car bomb kills 13 near Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Apr 13 (Reuters) A car bomb exploded near a market on the outskirts of Baghdad today, killing at least 13 people, Interior Ministry sources said.

The blast in the mostly Shi'ite Saba'a al-Bor area came one day after a car bomb killed 29 people in a town north of the capital.

Iraq's majority Shi'ites have witnessed a surge of attacks on their community in recent weeks in what US officials say is a campaign by the al Qaeda leader in Iraq to draw them into a sectarian civil war.

Last week, a triple suicide bombing at a Shi'ite mosque in Baghdad killed up to 90 people.

The United States has warned divided Iraqi leaders that they must quickly form a government or risk giving insurgents the opportunity to exploit the vacuum and press on with their campaign aimed at undermining the political process.

The bombing of a Shi'ite shrine on February 22 pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war and Washington fears more bloodshed could lead the country to the point of no return.

REUTERS DKS HS2228