Sepcial Report:Tension accelerates in Iraq

    

An Iraqi police man checks the site of two car bomb attacks in Baghdad August 16, 2006. Two simultaneous car bombs killed at least 14 people and wounded 63 in Baghdad on Wednesday, police said. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

BAGHDAD, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Two car bombs went off simultaneously in a square in central Baghdad on Wednesday, killing 11 people and injuring 43 others, a source from Iraqi Interior Ministry told Xinhua.

    The blasts occurred at about 6:40 p.m. (1440 GMT) in al-Nafr square, located in central Baghdad, the source said on condition of anonymity.

    Some wounded were in critical condition and the death toll might rise, the source said, adding that some cars caught fire and some buildings were destroyed in the attacks.

    Earlier in the day, a roadside bomb detonated in eastern Baghdad, killing 7 Iraqi civilians and injured 18 others.

    In recent months, Baghdad has witnessed a upsurge of sectarian violence, which has prompted the U.S. command to order 12,000 U.S.and Iraqi reinforcements into the capital. Enditem