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Bombs shake Iraq before Muslim holiday

By Jomana Karadsheh, CNN
The Iraqi military displays a car bomb built to be triggered by a cell phone in Baghdad on Wednesday.
The Iraqi military displays a car bomb built to be triggered by a cell phone in Baghdad on Wednesday.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • NEW: Third vehicle bomb in Baghdad adds to Thursday death toll
  • At least six killed, dozens injured, as bombs explode in Baghdad, smaller towns
  • Two bombs went off in busy marketplace; children among the injured
  • Markets in Iraq are packed as people prepare for Eid al-Adha holiday on Monday
RELATED TOPICS
  • Iraq
  • Baghdad
  • Islam

Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- A series of bombings in Iraq, just before a major Muslim holiday, killed at least six people and wounded 44 others on Thursday.

The two deadliest attacks Thursday were in the towns of Iskandariya and Yousifiya, south of Baghdad, an Interior Ministry official said.

Two bombs detonated in quick succession about 11 a.m. at a busy marketplace in Iskandariya, killing at least two people and wounding 28 others, including children, the official said.

Iskandariya, part of Babil province, is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) south of Baghdad.

In the second attack, a parked car bomb exploded at a taxi and bus stop in Yousifiya. The blast killed at least two people and wounded 10 others, the official said.

As Iraqis prepare to celebrate the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, public places like markets are packed with shoppers.

In Baghdad, three bombs attached to civilian vehicles caused casualties.

One of the bombs detonated on a highway in eastern Baghdad, killing the driver in the car and wounding two civilian bystanders.

In southwestern Baghdad's Saydiya neighborhood, an Iraqi was killed and three others were wounded when a bomb attached to a civilian vehicle detonated.

In northern Baghdad, a driver was wounded when a bomb attached to his vehicle exploded.