Baghdad bombings hit central bank

Baghdad bombings hit central bank

The bombs went off within a few minutes of each other

At least 12 people have been killed in a series of bombings in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, officials said.

Several explosions went off near Iraq's central bank as employees were leaving, police said.

Gunmen involved in the attack were reported to be fighting security forces within the bank compound.

The attack came one day before Iraq's new parliament was due to hold its first session.

Iraq's interior ministry said 40 people were also wounded in the explosions, most of them bank employees.

Raising money for attacks?

Officials said it was not clear if the attackers were trying to rob the bank.

The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says that in recent months there have been several well-organised attacks on jewellery stores and banks.

US and Iraqi officials have said they are being carried at by insurgent groups desperate to raise cash to finance their operations.

Television pictures showed a column of black smoke rising over Baghdad from the scene of the explosions and ambulances racing through the city streets.

A nearby generator caught fire along with its fuel store sending up a thick hall of black smoke.

Violence has dropped sharply in Iraq since 2006-07, but unrest has simmered since the general election in March produced no outright winner.

A deal between the various parties to form a government and choose a prime minister has not been reached and may still take weeks of negotiations, analysts say.