Twelve civilians killed in car bomb attack

Twelve civilians were killed and 17 others wounded today when a parked car bomb exploded in central Baghdad, Iraqi police said.

Five cars were incinerated by the blast, which occurred in al-Hurriyah square in the Karradah neighbourhood.

Explosives had been planted in a vehicle, and were detonated at about 10.15am local time, police said.

The predominantly Shiite area also was hit by a devastating explosion on Thursday that levelled buildings and left at least 61 people dead.