Over 20 people, some reports saying 29, were killed and around 70 others were wounded in a series of car bombs exploded in Shiite areas of Iraq on Friday.

Two car bombs were consecutively detonated in the north Baghdad neighbourhood of Kadhimiyah, while two other explosions were reported in Shomali, a town in the mostly Shiite Babil province, reported police and hospital sources.

Shiite areas in Iraq are often targeted by Sunni militants with deadly attacks.