Iraq explosions claim lives of at least 69

At least 69 people were killed in a wave of explosions across Iraq today.

A series of roadside bombs and exploding cars in north east Iraq killed 11 and injured 25.

The attacks all targeted security forces.

The blasts came within hours of explosions in Baghdad and northern Iraq that left another 58 people dead.

The attacks in the capital, in the suburban Baghdad towns of Taji and Hussainya, and around the northern city of Kirkuk appeared coordinated and were aimed mostly at government officials and security forces.

A car bomb outside a Baghdad office issuing government IDs killed at least 14 people.

Security officials said the car blew up near an interior ministry office that issues ID cards to citizens in the capital’s Shiite-dominated neighbourhood of Sadr City.

Earlier, attacks in the town of Taji just north of the capital killed 28.

And blasts around the northern city of Kirkuk and in the town of Hussainiya outside Baghdad left another nine dead.