At least thirteen people have been killed and 17 others wounded in three car bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
In the latest incident, two policemen and two civilians were killed and five others were wounded in a blast in the Zayouna district in east Baghdad.
Earlier, nine people were killed and 10 others hurt in a bomb attack which struck in a busy neighbourhood in southern Baghdad, destroying a row of shops and setting an apartment block on fire.
A third attack targeted the convoy of an Interior Ministry police chief which was passing through the northwest of the city.
The police chief escaped unhurt but two of his guards were hurt, though their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
Elsewhere in Iraq, a child was killed and 15 people were injured when two suicide bombers blew themselves up in the northern city of Mosul.
British solider killed in Iraq
Meanwhile, Britain's Ministry of Defence has announced that a British soldier has been killed during hostile action in Iraq.
The death brings to 83 the total number of British military personnel fatalities in Iraq since the invasion in 2003.
It comes in the final week of the British General Election campaign, in which the Iraq war has figured prominently.
Australia in bid to free hostage
And in a separate development, Australia is to send an emergency response team to Iraq in a bid to free an Australian citizen kidnapped by Iraqi militants.
Yesterday, a video of a man in his 60s surrounded by armed men was released to journalists in Baghdad.
The man identified himself as Douglas Wood on the tape and called for the withdrawal of US, British and Australian troops.
However, Prime Minister John Howard has ruled out negotiating with militants.
Mr Howard said he would not allow Australian foreign policy be dictated by terrorists.
The tape was released the same day as three men were arrested in connection with the killing of Margaret Hassan, the Irish-born aid worker who was kidnapped last year.
