Dozens killed in Baghdad bombings

Multiple explosions and shootings in Iraq killed at least 75 people and wounded 129 on Wednesday, according to police and medical officials, making it one of the bloodiest days in months.

In the deadliest attack, a suicide bomber targeted a funeral in the village of Buhriz, near the northern town of Baquba, on Wednesday, killing 18 people and injuring 23.

In Baghdad about half a dozen car bombs exploded, mostly in Shia Muslim neighbourhoods, killing at least 16 people and wounding dozens more.

On Wednesday evening seven truck drivers were killed by unknown gunmen when they were carrying construction materials in Ma'amel, 21 miles northeast of Baquba, according to a police source.

Wednesday's violence occurred amid a continuing standoff between Iraqi police, Sunni tribesmen and al-Qaeda linked fighters in Anbar province for control of major cities.

Iraqi forces lost more ground in crisis-hit Anbar province on Wednesday as Sunni gunmen, including those from the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) overran two key areas when police abandoned their posts, officials said.

The losses marked a second day of setbacks for Baghdad as it seeks to retake territory on the capital's doorstep from ISIL fighters, who hold Fallujah and parts of the provincial capital, Ramadi.

In a televised speech, Nouri al-Maliki, Iraq’s prime minister, addressing the people of Anbar and Mosul, said:

"Any house from which fire opened against our security forces will be a target."

Addressing the international community, he said: "Let’s fight al-Qaeda and you should dry up its funding sources and whoever provides a haven or supports it will be our target."

Wire services