Car bombs, mortars hit Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Feb 25 (Reuters) A car bomb exploded along a commercial street in central Baghdad today, the latest in a series of blasts to rock the capital in the space of a few hours, Iraqi police said.

The latest blast, in the Karrada district, sent a plume of black smoke into the air. It was unclear if there were any casualties but witnesses said the area was crowded with people.

Mortars earlier crashed into a market in a Shi'ite area in southern Baghdad, but there were conflicting reports about casualties, police said.

One police source said 10 people were killed in the attack in the Abu Dsher area of Doura neighbourhood, but two other police sources said no more than three people had been wounded.

A car bomb also killed one person and wounded four in central Baghdad, not far from the Iranian embassy, police said.

Police said the diplomatic mission did not appear to have been the target. The embassy compound was not damaged.

The blasts came despite a major new US-backed security crackdown in Baghdad.

REUTERS SP BD1448