Far more than 70 people have been killed in a collection of bombings in Iraq in the 2nd main day of attacks in a fortnight, ramping up fears of an boost in sectarian strife.

Several bombs exploded within the space of a couple of hrs in Baghdad and the southern town of Nasiriyah, all appearing to target Iraq's Shiite population.

One particular suicide bomber blew himself up as Shiite pilgrims had been on their way to a religious ceremony and in Baghdad a number of bombs exploded in Shiite neighbourhoods.

The greatest assault was beside a police checkpoint west of Nassiriya in the south, exactly where a suicide bomber targeting Shiite pilgrims killed 44 folks and wounded 81.

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New round of sectarian conflict looms in Iraq

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Photographs showed relatives hugging the bodies of younger guys lying face down on floor covered in blood and with the pilgrims' belongings strewn close to them.

Earlier on Thursday, a bomb planted on a parked motorcycle and yet another roadside explosive big and tall soccer jerseys product killed at least ten people and wounded 37 in Sadr Town, a slum district in north-east Baghdad, police and hospital sources said.

Police said they identified and defused two other bombs.

There was a group of day labourers gathered, Coach Outlet waiting around to be employed for function. A person brought his little motorbike and parked it close by. A handful of minutes later it blew up, killed some folks, wounded other people and burned some cars, a police officer at the scene stated, declining to be named.

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A bomb blast targeted a hospital in north-east Baghdad

(Ahmad Al-Rubaye: AFP)

A reporter at the scene explained there was blood around the website of the bike bomb attack and tarmac on the highway had been ripped up by the blast. Building equipment and shoes were scattered across the web site.

Across the metropolis two automobile bombs in the north-west Kadhimiya district killed at least fifteen folks and wounded 32, police and hospital sources said.

Folks began to flee from the explosions and others ran towards them [to look for relatives]. The scene was like a play, with individuals crying and screaming and falling, Ahmed Maati, cheap soccer jerseys free shipping a policeman cheap soccer scarves in Kadhimiya, said.

The bombings once again highlight the escalating tensions among Shia and Sunni Muslims in Iraq - exacerbated by a worsening political crisis.

Shiite prime minister Nouri al Maliki previous month accepted charges in opposition to his Sunni vice-president Tariq al Hashemi, who is accused of terrorism.

And as the crisis drags on a lot more violence appears unavoidable.

ABC/Reuters