Baghdad: At least 19 people were killed and more than 30 injured when two roadside bombs went off in quick succession late on Thursday in a busy market place in Iraqi capital Baghdad, a police source said.

The bombings struck simultaneously in the commercial Ataar street in the central district of Kharada, a police source said on condition of anonymity.

According to the source, at least 34 people were injured, some seriously, in the blasts.

Several cars and shops were damaged in the blasts, he said and added that the number of fatality could rise.

The security condition in Iraq has improved since last summer, mainly attributed to the surge of US troops, the Sunnis uprising against Al Qaeda terrorist network and the ceasefire of a major Shia militia.

However, official statistics showed that civilian deaths grew by more than 30 per cent in February compared with January due to a string of large-scale suicide bombings.

The US military has warned that Al-Qaeda remains the leading security threat in the country.

Source : IANS