Bombings kill 39 in and around Iraqi capital

In the Taji area just north of Baghdad, a car bomb near an auto repair shop killed three more people, said police. 

Police said four people were killed and 11 others wounded when a car bomb went off near a line of shops in the Shiite village of Sabaa al-Bour, 30 kilometres north of Baghdad. 

Also, an off-duty army officer was killed when a sticky bomb attached to his car exploded as he was driving near his house in Madain town, just south of Baghdad, police said. 

Saad Maan Ibrahim, an Interior Ministry spokesman said today's attacks bear the hallmark of al-Qaeda's Iraqi branch.

“Al-Qaeda terrorists have been attacking soft targets as they are not able to confront our security forces,” he said. 

“They want to send a message that they are still strong.” At least 127 people have died in attacks in Iraq so far this month, according to an Associated Press count.