At least 22 people have been killed and 26 wounded in twin bomb attacks that hit central Baghdad this afternoon, police said.
"As the police patrol was passing by, a car bomb exploded. At the same time a suicide bomber went inside the shop and blew himself up," a policeman said.
He said at least 12 civilians and at least three policemen had been killed in the explosions. In the aftermath of the blasts, body parts lay scattered in the street and several cars were on fire.
The bombings took place just hours after Iraqi security forces began a major clampdown in the capital ahead of tomorrow's release of the final results of the December 15th elections.