Violence has been on the rise across Iraq since a deadly crackdown by government forces on a Sunni protest camp in April, and attacks against civilians and security forces notably spiked during Ramzan. The surge of attacks has sparked fears that Iraq could spiral into a new round of widespread sectarian bloodshed similar to that which brought the country to the edge of civil war in 2006 and 2007.

Police said the deadliest of Saturday's attacks took place when a car bomb exploded near an outdoor market in the Baghdad's southeastern suburbs of Jisr Diyala shortly before sunset, killing seven people and wounding 20.

Police said a series of car bombs against cafes, markets and restaurants in Shi'ite areas in Baghdad killed another 37 people and wounded dozens. Medical officials confirmed the casualty figures. Police said a suicide bomber detonated a bomb in a car in the town of Tuz Khurmato, 170 km north of the capital, killing at least eight and wounding 45.