**A series of car bombings has hit the centre of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, killing at least four people and wounding about 14, police say.**The blasts occurred outside the heavily fortified Green Zone.
There has been a recent upsurge of violence in the city. A week ago, at least 127 people were killed in multiple car bombings.
Officials have accused al-Qaeda of trying the destabilise the country ahead of elections due in March.
One of Tuesday’s bombs exploded near the Iranian embassy and another near the foreign ministry, officials. It is not clear where the third bomb was detonated.
DEADLIEST ATTACKS SINCE 2003
- Aug 2007: More than 500 killed in attacks on villages near Sinjar
- Nov 2006: 202 killed in multiple blasts in Baghdad
- Apr 2007: 191 killed in car bombings in Baghdad
- Mar 2004: 171 killed in bombings in Baghdad and Karbala
- Oct 2009: 155 killed in twin truck bomb attacks in Baghdad
- Mar 2007: 152 killed in truck bombing in Talafar
Source: News agencies, BBC
Iraqi government figures have shown that violence generally has fallen over the past 18 months.
In October, however, co-ordinated bomb attacks killed at least 155 people and wounded hundreds in Baghdad.
There have been a number of attacks since then - including last week’s co-ordinated car bombings.
Correspondents say that besides occasional massive bombings, insurgents also stage frequent smaller-scale attacks against targets such as marketplaces, mosques or schools.
Security has been heightened ahead of March’s parliamentary elections.