Dozens of people die in Baghdad in a series of bomb blasts

Dozens of people die in Baghdad in a series of bomb blasts Iraqi officials have said that a trio of suicide car bombers set off their deadly cargoes in Baghdad Sunday morning, inflicting heavy carnage.

At least 41 people died and 237 others were wounded in the three explosions, the Los Angeles Times has reported. No group had claimed responsibility for the attacks, although provincial security committee official Abdul Kareem al-Thirib attributed them to al-Qaida in Mesopotamia, the New York Times said.

It was further reported by the New York Times that other bombs and rockets went off in scattered locations in the city as well, but caused no deaths. A blast in southern Mosul, apparently meant to hit a passing police patrol, claimed at least two civilians' lives and injured 20 other people, mostly civilians, the Kuwaiti news service KUNA, said.

The Times of London also reported online that the three major explosions in Baghdad occurred with several minutes of each other. One blast took place outside the Iranian Embassy, another outside the Germany Embassy near other embassies and the third in al-Ruad Square, where a source told the London newspaper a private security firm has its headquarters.

According to the reports of the New York Times, the residence of the Egyptian charge d'affaires also was targeted.

A fourth would-be suicide bomber was shot and wounded before he could detonate his explosives. Police said the 17-year-old driver was on drugs and his minivan contained a ton of explosives.

Suspects had been taken into custody while two terrorists have been killed by police.

Sunday's explosions came a day after 25 civilians were killed execution-style in a village south of Baghdad and as Iraqi politicians jockey for position amid uncertainty about the outcome of the March 7 elections. (With Inputs from Agencies)