Attacks across Iraq kill at least 31 A STRING of bombings in mostly Shi'ite-majority cities across Iraq has killed at least 31 people and wounded dozens. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but car bombs are frequently used by al-Qaeda's Iraq branch. The Sunni militant group and other Sunni extremists often target Shi'ite civilians in an effort to undermine the country's Shi'ite-led government. The deadliest Sunday's attacks, which targeted mainly commercial areas and bus stations, was in the southern city of Hillah, 95 kilometres south of Baghdad. Back-to-back car bombings hit an outdoor market, killing eight people and wounding 22, a police officer said. Two parked car bombs ripped through a commercial area of Suwayrah, 40 kilometres south of Baghdad, killing five people and wounding 14. Two other car bombs that exploded simultaneously in Kut, 160 kilometres southeast of Baghdad, killed four and wounded 16. In nearby Samawah, four other people were killed and 13 wounded when two car bombs exploded. Two other car bombs killed three and wounded 13 in Diwaniyah, 130 kilometres south of the capital. In northern Samarra, two people were killed and 15 were wounded when a bomb targeted a gathering of mourners for some of the 17 people who were killed in a car bombing there on Saturday. Five other people were killed and 34 were wounded in other attacks in the southern city of Basra and the central towns of Mahmoudiyah and Madain. More than 5000 people have been killed in Iraq since attacks began accelerating in April following a deadly crackdown against a Sunni protest camp in the northern town of Hawija. More than 258 people have been so far killed in October.