Sepcial Report: Tension accelerates in Iraq

    BAGHDAD, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- Death toll rose to ten people killed and up to 70 others wounded in two successive roadside bombings in Baghdad's busy commercial area on Tuesday, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua.

    "Two roadside bombs detonated in short succession at about 10:30 a.m. (0630 GMT) near the busy commercial area of Shorjah on the east bank of Tigris River," the source said on condition of anonymity.

    "Our latest reports said that ten people were killed and up to 70 others wounded," the source said.

    Earlier, the source said that one roadside bomb detonated in the area of Shorjah, killing two people and wounding 19 others. The blast also damaged several nearby shops and civilian cars, he added.

    Two plumes of black smoke could be seen rising over the area and sirens of Iraqi security forces and ambulances could be heard at the scene, according to witnesses.

    Earlier in the day, three separate roadside bombs detonated in Baghdad, killing nine people and wounding 11 others, police said.

    A roadside bomb blasted near a bus station in central Baghdad Tuesday morning, killing nine people and wounding eight others. In short succession, another two roadside bombs targeted police patrols in the area, wounding three policemen.

    The blasts occurred when over 50,000 Iraqi and U.S. troops have patrolled Baghdad to quell sectarian violence and insurgency in the capital since June. Enditem