Three car bombs were detonated in a dominatingly Shiite district in Baghdad on Wednesday, killing at least 18 people and wounding 48, police said.

The blasts in quick succession took place at about 8:30 p.m. (1630 GMT) and caused heavy damage and casualties to the main street of Shola neighborhood, they added.

Insurgents have stepped up attacks since a Shiite-led government was formed in late April. Some 1,000 Iraqis and over 120 US soldiers were killed in two months' time.

Source: Xinhua