Separate attacks across Iraq kill 20

BAGHDAD (AP) Attacks across Iraq killed at least 20 people Sunday, officials said, as gunmen attacked a militia leader and bombs targeted police officers and civilians.

In the capital's eastern New Baghdad neighborhood, a parked car bomb missed a police patrol but killed three civilians and wounded 10, a police officer said. Another police officer said a car bombing in Baghdad's eastern Sadr City neighborhood killed one person and wounded 11.

In the Baghdad's southwestern suburb of Radwaniyah, a bomb went off in a commercial area, killing three civilians and wounding 10, authorities said. In the town of Tarmiyah, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Baghdad, a bomb exploded near soldiers on patrol, killing two and wounding five, officials said.

At dawn Sunday, militants attacked a local leader of pro-government, anti-al-Qaida Sunni miliia in his house in the town of Madain, 20 kilometers (14 miles) south of Baghdad, killing his brother and wounding one guard, authorities said. Two militants were killed in the clashes and two others were wounded, police said.

The Sahwa movement, also known as the Awakening Council, was formed by U.S. forces in 2007 to help fight the insurgents during the height of Iraqi war. Ever since, it has been a target for Sunni hard-liners who consider them traitors.

In Baghdad's southern Dora neighborhood, a car bomb exploded in a vegetable market, killing three civilians and wounding 12, a police officer said. A bomb exploded inside a car showroom in Baghdad's eastern suburbs, killing four and wounding 11, police said.

Three other civilians were killed and 11 wounded when a car bomb exploded near liquor stores in Baghdad's central Karrada area, police said.

Medical officials confirmed causality figures. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to release information.

Violence has escalated in Iraq in recent months, with the pace of killing reaching levels unseen since 2008. Today's attacks bring the death toll across the country this month to 67, according to an Associated Press count. More than 5,500 people have been killed since April, according to United Nations figures.