Two bombs, strapped to mentally impaired women, have exploded in crowded Baghdad's pet markets, killing at least 64 people.
The two co-ordinated blasts were triggered by remote control, causing the deadliest attacks in the Iraqi capital in six months.
Both mentally impaired women were wearing belts containing 15kgs of explosives. The explosives were stuffed with iron slugs and designed to cause as much damage as possible.
The blasts occurred within 20 minutes of each other.
The first bomb was detonated in the popular al-Ghazl pet market in central Baghdad at about 10am, killing 46 people.
The second bomb exploded in a pet market in the al-Jadida neighbourhood of southeast Baghdad, killing 18.
More than 100 people were wounded.
The attacks are sure to dent growing confidence among Iraqis that the streets of Baghdad are becoming safer following a steep reduction in violence.
Civilian deaths across Iraq last month were the lowest in almost two years.
Combined figures obtained from the defence, interior and health ministries showed that a total of 541 Iraqis - 463 civilians, 22 soldiers and 56 policemen - were killed in January.
