Several car bombs exploded near Shi'ite mosques across Iraq Friday, killing at least 18 people and wounding more than 100 in the latest spate of sectarian violence ahead of Iraq's regional elections scheduled for next month.
The blasts, within an hour of each other, hit several Baghdad neighborhoods and in the northern city of Kirkuk. The four car bombs across Baghdad killed at least 14 and wounded several dozen.
No group claimed responsibility.
The Iraqi government is postponing local elections scheduled for next month in the provinces of Anbar and Ninevah by up to six months, because of security threats to electoral workers and candidates.
Voting in Iraq's other provinces is due to go ahead as planned on April 20.