A car bomb has exploded in the Baghdad al-Jidida neighbourhood killing three civillians and wounding seven others.

A restaurant worker said the blast went off "right next to civilian pedestrians", but added he did not know whether the explosion was caused by a stationary or moving vehicle.

Another roadside bomb then exploded next to a police patrol in a downtown neighbourhood, wounding six civilians.

Police said the blast occurred near the National Theatre in the Karrada neighbourhood; an area that has been the persistent target of bombings and attacks.

Some of the injured were taken to the al-Kindi Teaching Hospital in central Baghdad for treatment.

The latest spate of violence comes just a day after three blasts killed at least 34 Iraqis in a suicide bombing in the Diyala province.

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