BAGHDAD-
At least 18 people were killed and 46 others wounded in violent attacks in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Wednesday, police said.
Five people were killed and 12 others injured when a car bomb exploded in a popular market in the district of New Baghdad in the southeastern part of the capital, a police source told a foreign news agency.
Eight people were killed and 20 others wounded when two car bombs went off in the Shuala area of northwestern Baghdad, while three people were killed and ten wounded when a car bomb exploded in a market in Talbea area of eastern Baghdad, the police source said.
Two civilians were killed and four others injured when they were shot by unidentified gunmen in the area of Camp Sara in eastern Baghdad, he added.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks, but the al-Qaida front in Iraq, in most cases, was responsible for such bombings and shootings in the country.
Also on Thursday, militants stormed a building in Baghdad next to the Iraqi ministry of human rights and taken a number of people hostage, officials say.
It is not clear how many hostages there were nor if there were any casualties.
Security forces quickly sealed off the surrounding area, where several government buildings are located, including the transport ministry.
No group has claimed responsibility, though Sunni militants linked to al-Qaeda have mounted similar attacks.
Iraq is witnessing its worst violence in recent years. According to the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, a total of 8,868 Iraqis, including 7,818 civilians and civilian police personnel, were killed in 2013, marking highest annual death toll in years.
