A bomb went off in Baghdad's commercial center of Shorja on Wednesday, killing a civilian and wounding at least 10 others, a police source said.

"An explosive-charge detonated shortly after 10:00 a.m. (0600 GMT) in the busy commercial area of Shorja, killing a civilian and wounding more than ten others," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Iraqi security forces and ambulances rushed to the scene to secure the area and evacuate casualties, the source added.

Earlier, the police said that apparently a bike-bomb left close to the office of a recruitment center in Hilla, 100 km south of Baghdad, detonated at about 8:00 a.m. (0400 GMT) and killed at least 12 people and wounded some 30 others.

The blast took place when a crowd of volunteers gathered outside the office to sign up for the army, the source added.

Meanwhile, police Lt. Osama Ahmed said a man posing as a potential army recruit had planted the bicycle bomb.

The two blasts follow several days of heavy bloodshed outside the capital city of Baghdad, where U.S. and Iraqi troops have mounted a major security crackdown.

Source: Xinhua