Car bombings kill 12 in Baghdad

At least 12 people have been killed and dozens more wounded in two car bombings in a western district of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, police have said.

Officials said the near-simultaneous explosions occurred in a predominantly Shia neighbourhood.

Early police reports say the explosions occurred just before the breaking of the fast for the evening meal during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

One police source said he expected the death toll from the bombings to rise.