BAGHDAD: Four car bombs hit Baghdad on Monday, killing at least six people and wounding almost 50, police said.  Two blasts occurred near the Mustansiriya University, killing at least three and wounding 15.
 
Earlier, another car bomb killed at least three people and wounded 25 near the Ministry of Health in the city centre.

The three blasts were followed by another attack that wounded eight.

The car bombings are a bloody reminder that Prime Minister-designate Jawad al-Maliki faces a daunting task in trying to form a government that can avert a slide to sectarian civil war.