IRAQ: 43 DEAD AFTER CAR BOMBINGS PUMMEL BAGHDAD AND OTHER AREAS OF IRAQ

43 dead after car bombings pummel Baghdad and other areas of Iraq

By Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN

July 29, 2013 -- Updated 0955 GMT (1755 HKT)

Rubble lies in a street after a car bomb explosion in Sadr City, Baghdad, on Monday.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

NEW: 20 car and roadside bombings reported by Interior Ministry
NEW: Most of the casualties occurred in the capital, Baghdad, officials say
Monday's attacks occurred in predominantly Shiite areas
Most of the bombings take place in an hour's time

Baghdad (CNN) -- A string of car and roadside bombs exploded across Iraq on Monday morning, killing at least 43 people and wounding nearly 200 others, police said.

Interior Ministry officials said more than 20 attacks were carried out by the "enemies of Iraq."

Most of the casualties occurred in the capital, Baghdad, the officials said. All the attacks occurred in predominantly Shiite areas.

No group claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Iraq has been in the throes of relentless violence, much of it stemming from discord between Sunnis and Shiites.

Sunnis have long felt politically marginalized under a Shiite-led government in the post-Saddam Hussein era. They enjoyed more political clout during Hussein's rule before his ouster after the U.S.-led 2003 invasion.

According to a CNN tally, the violence has killed nearly 600 people in Iraq this month.