Over 40 Dead as Three Car Bombs Strike Baghdad

Over 40 people were killed and scores others sustained wounds as suicide attackers detonated three car bombs in quick succession near foreign embassies in Baghdad on Sunday, Iraqi officials believe the attacks were intended to disrupt the formation of a new government, said media reports.

The attacks came two days after 24 villagers were executed in a Sunni area, in what is believed to be an act of revenge.

The first explosion struck in the vicinity of the Iranian Embassy at around 1100 hours (local time).

Minutes later, two other explosions hit an area housing several diplomatic missions, including the Egyptian Consulate and the German and Spanish embassies.