Car bomb and explosions rocked the central Baghdad on Thursday afternoon, shortly after two mortar shells or rockets fell into the heavily-fortified Green Zone, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua.

"In the Karrada district across the river from the Green Zone, a car bomb went off at about 4:30 p.m. (1330 GMT), killing two people and injuring 18 others," the source said.

The car bomb explosion came shortly after two mortar shells or rockets fell into Green Zone, which houses the offices of the Iraqi government and U.S. embassy.

The explosions caused by the shelling, triggered the alarming system, which warned the people in Green Zone to take cover.

The Green Zone, located in central Baghdad, is frequently hit by rocket and mortar shells but seldom with casualties.

Source: Xinhua