Central Baghdad car bombs kill at least 8: Police

Baghdad, July 23: At least eight people were killed and 12 wounded in two separate car bombings in different areas of Baghdad's central Karrada district today and the death toll was expected to rise, police said.

The two bombs detonated almost simultaneously. One went off near a government office in Karrada which issues identity cards to Iraqis. The office is near one of the main bridges leading across the Tigris River to the heavily fortified Green Zone.

The second exploded in a busy shopping area in predominantly Shi'ite Karrada.

Many cars were set ablaze by the explosions, police said.

Reuters>