Car Bombs Kill at Least 17, Wound 49 in Baghdad

Two car bombs exploded in areas of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 17 people, security and medical officials said.

The first blast struck an area of shops, restaurants and cafes in the Kadhimiyah area of northern Baghdad, killing at least 11 people and wounding 32.

Another car bomb exploded later in the central district of Karrada, killing at least six people and wounding 17, officials said.

Iraq is struggling to regain ground from a sweeping extremist-led insurgency in the country.