Series of car bombs kills 13 in Baghdad

Iraqi officials say a series of car bombs has hit several mostly Shiite neighborhoods in Baghdad, killing at least 13 people.

Police officials say four car bombs exploded on Wednesday morning in the Iraqi capital. One struck in the sprawling Sadr City district, one in the suburb of Kazimiyah, one in Shaab and one in the impoverished Shammaiya neighborhood.

The attacks also wounded 46 people.

All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Violence has been escalating in Iraq and last year, the country saw its highest death toll since the worst of the sectarian bloodletting began to subside in 2007.

On April 30, Iraq is to hold its first parliamentary elections since the withdrawal of U.S. troops in late 2011.