BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraqi officials say five car bombs have gone off in Shiite neighbourhoods of Baghdad, killing 16 people and wounding 75.

Police officials say the blasts struck bus stations and outdoor markets on Monday morning. Hospital officials confirmed the casualty tolls. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to talk to the media.

Earlier in the day, two car bombings in the southern city of Basra killed at least 10 people and wounded 27.

Iraq has seen a spike of attacks, including bombings hitting both Sunni and Shiite civilian targets over the last week.

The bloodshed has raised fears of a return to the widespread sectarian violence of 2006-2007 that brought the country to the edge of civil war.