Car bombs near Shiite places of worship, known as husseiniyahs, in Baghdad killed at least 12 people and wounded at least 50 on Tuesday, officials said.
The attacks hit the Shuala, Graiat and Hurriyah areas in the north of the
capital.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, but car bombs are a hallmark of Sunni insurgents who often carry out attacks against Iraq's Shiite majority.

Violence in Iraq has decreased dramatically from its peak in 2006 and 2007, when brutal sectarian violence swept the country, but attacks remain common.

According to Iraqi government figures, 144 people were killed and 264 wounded in attacks last month.