Car bomb kills seven in Baghdad market - police

BAGHDAD, June 20 (Reuters) A car bomb exploded in a crowded Baghdad market today, killing seven people and wounding 18, police said.

The bomb exploded among morning shoppers in the market in the eastern district of Jamila, a police source told Reuters.

In southern Baghdad, a car bomb parked in a street in Saidiya district, wounding five civilians, police said.

The bombings come despite a continued security clampdown in the capital which the government says involves up to 40,000 troops and is aimed at piling pressure on al Qaeda militants in Baghdad.

Al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed in a US air strike on his safe house near Baquba north of Baghdad on June 7.

His successor has vowed to retaliate.

REUTERS KD VV1519