12 killed and dozens wounded in Iraq attacks By Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN July 3, 2012 -- Updated 1003 GMT (1803 HKT) NEW: More than 230 people were killed across the country in June, according to CNN tally One attack leaves 10 dead near Karbala In another attack eight bombs exploded in quick succession Violence has drastically dropped across the country since 2008. Baghdad (CNN) -- A series of attacks left 12 dead and 35 injured in Iraq Tuesday, police said. One attack occurred near Karbala when a car bomb exploded in an outdoor market killing 10 people and wounding 16 others, according to the Karbala governor's office. Eight roadside bombs exploded in quick succession in Taji, about 20 km (12 miles) north of Baghdad, killing two people and wounding 14 others, police in Baghdad said. The assailants were targeting an Iraqi police checkpoint in the Tuesday morning attack, police said. In a western Baghdad neighborhood, a roadside bomb exploded wounding three people. Also in western Baghdad, gunmen attacked a checkpoint manned by local Awakening Council members, wounding two of them, police said. The Awakening Councils, also known as the Sons of Iraq, are made up predominantly of Sunni Arab fighters who battled Iraq's al Qaeda militants after turning on them in late 2006. More than 230 people were killed across the country in June, according to a CNN tally. Despite the recent spate of attacks, violence has drastically dropped across the country since 2008. For example in January 2007, 1,990 civilians were killed across the country according to Iraq's Interior Ministry.