62 killed in Baghdad suicide bombings

"The toll from the two coordinated attacks in central Baghdad rose to 62 killed and 40 others injured," Xinhua reported quoting the unnamed source.

A suicide bomber blew up an explosives-laden car outside the building of Baghdad Provincial Council near the Mansour Hotel, the source added.

The second blast occurred outside the Iraqi Ministry of Justice close to the location of the first bombing, when a suicide bomber blew up an explosives-packed car, he said, adding that the Iraqi security forces were investigating the incidents.
A Xinhua correspondent at the scene said at least 12 civilian cars were charred and some were totally destroyed by the powerful blasts.

Iraqi security forces sealed off the scene and fire engines arrived to put out fires as columns of black smoke rise above the scene, he said.
The two attacks appear to be the biggest since the attacks Aug 19 when suicide truck bomb attacks targeted two Iraqi ministries, killing and wounding some 1,300 Iraqis.