Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Report: Car Bomb Strikes Baghdad Market, at Least 12 Dead

by VOA News

   BAGHDAD --

   A car bomb blast killed at least 12 people and wounded 50 others at a
   vegetable market in eastern Baghdad Sunday, police and medical sources
   said.

   The explosion hit the mainly Shi'ite district of Jamila, the sources
   said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombing.

   Interior Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Saad Maan says a member of the
   security forces spotted the car bomber and opened fire, but was unable
   to prevent him from detonating his vehicle outside a wholesale market
   in Baghdad's sprawling Shiite district of Sadr City.

   A series of attacks in the Iraqi capital and other cities in just more
   than a week has killed dozens of people.

   Several have been claimed by Islamic State, which is coming under
   increasing pressure from a U.S.-backed offensive in Mosul, its last
   major stronghold in Iraq. IS views Shiite Muslims, as well as other
   religious minorities, as apostates.

   Commercial and public areas are among the militants' most frequent
   targets as they seek to undermine public confidence in the government's
   ability to maintain security.