Wave of bomb attacks in Shia districts of Baghdad kills 66 people

A wave of car bombings has torn through mostly Shia Muslim neighbourhoods of Baghdad, leaving at least 66 people dead.

Iraq's security is rapidly deteriorating as sectarian tensions increase, exacerbated by months of Sunni-led anti-government protests and the war in neighbouring Syria. More than 350 people have died in two weeks of bloodshed.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for yesterday's violence but the attacks bore the hallmarks of al-Qa'ida's Iraqi arm. The Islamic State of Iraq frequently uses car bombs and co-ordinated blasts in an effort to undermine Iraqis' confidence in the Shia-led government.