Baghdad bombings hit central bank

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.

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

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.

Iraq's interior ministry said 40 people were wounded in Sunday's blasts.

A bank official said gunmen within the bank's compound were fighting security troops, Reuters news agency reported.