Baghdad:
Car bombs exploded Thursday near two of Baghdad's most high-profile hotels, killing at least three people, police said.
The explosions occurred just before midnight (2100 GMT) and were heard across the city centre. According to police and an interior ministry source, at least 12 people were also wounded.
The first explosion went off near the Babylon hotel, a swanky and recently refurbished hotel overlooking the Tigris river.
The second car bomb exploded a few minutes later in an area close to the Sheraton hotel and a popular club which is usually crowded at that time on a Thursday.