At least ten people have been killed and 51 wounded in two car bomb blasts in the Sadr City area of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
The district is a stronghold of the Mehdi Army militia of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
The attack comes a day after gunmen killed at least 42 Sunnis in the western Jihad district of the capital.
It is reported that many of the victims were killed after being pulled from their cars at fake police checkpoints.
In an apparent revenge attack soon afterwards, 19 people were killed and 59 wounded when twin car bombs went off outside a Shia mosque.
The attacks have raised fears that Iraq is descending further into sectarian civil war.
Hussein's lawyers will boycott trial
Saddam Hussein's lawyers have said they will boycott the toppled leader's trial until six demands are met.
The move follows the killing of a third member of the defence team last month.
In a statement issued hours after the trial began hearing final arguments in defence of one of Saddam Hussein's minor co-accused, the defence team said: 'We will suspend our attendance today until the following fair demands are met.'
The six demands included more security and a probe into the lawyer's killing.
The former Iraqi dictator, his half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti and five former Ba'ath party allies are charged with crimes against humanity.
The prosecution has demanded Saddam Hussein’s execution if he is found guilty.
