BAGHDAD — Iraqi police say a car bomb has killed 11 people and wounded about 30 in a south Baghdad produce market.
The blast occurred about 7 a.m. today at the entrance to the Rasheed wholesale fruit and vegetable market.
Hospital officials confirmed the attack and the casualty toll. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not supposed to release the information.
The blast follows a sharp rise in attacks in Iraq last month. April was also the deadliest month for U.S. troops in Iraq since September, with 18 reported deaths.
On Tuesday, Iraq’s prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, said that Iraqi forces are ready to take over their own security as the U.S. begins to withdraw but that the government still needs help gathering intelligence to target insurgents and prevent attacks.
