A car bomb killed 12 people and wounded 25 others in southern Baghdad on Thursday, Iraqi police said. They said several children were among the dead and wounded in the attack in the mainly Shia neighbourhood of Abu Dshir. The car exploded near a restaurant, police said.
US and Iraqi forces have launched a major military operation in and around Baghdad to stem sectarian bloodshed between majority Shia and minority Sunni Arabs. They have walled off popular markets, closed streets and stepped up the number of checkpoints to thwart attacks.