Death toll in Kirkuk car bombings up to 7

The death toll rose to seven in four car bombs attacks in Iraq's northeastern city of Kirkuk on Sunday, local police said.

Another 71 others, including policemen, were wounded when four car bombs went off successively in Kirkuk, police added.

"According to our latest reports seven people were killed and 71 others wounded along with some 50 civilian cars and buildings damaged," Brigadier Burhan Taha Wasif told Xinhua by telephone.

Asked about the targets of the attacks, Wasif said that only one attack targeted the police whereas the others went off in civilian areas.

"A car bomb parking near the Islamic school detonated at about 12:30 p.m. (0930 GMT)," Wasif said.

"A second booby-trapped car went off in a market in Wasiti neighborhood and was followed by a third explosive-packed car near the Shaimaa confectionery and a fourth one near a female teacher institute in the city," Wasif said.

"The series of car bombings were aimed at crippling the ongoing political process and the city's reconciliation efforts in the multiethnic city," he added.

Several days ago, Kirkuk City was the scene of a major offensive to curb insurgency which was conducted by Iraqi security force backed by U.S. troops.

Source: Xinhua