At least 16 people have been reported killed in separate attacks in northern Iraq.
The deadliest attack was a suicide car bombing at a police checkpoint near the city of Kirkuk. At least 10 people were reported killed and more than a dozen others injured in the attack.
Iraq has seen an upsurge in violence, with almost daily attacks mainly targeting security forces and Shi'ite civilians.
The unrest has been driven primarily by anger among the Sunni Arab minority over their perceived mistreatment at the hands of the Shi'ite-led government and security forces.
According to UN estimates, 8,868 people were killed in violence in 2013, Iraq's highest annual death toll in five years.
Iraq's first general election since U.S. troops left at the end of 2011 is scheduled to be held on April 30.
The deadliest attack was a suicide car bombing at a police checkpoint near the city of Kirkuk. At least 10 people were reported killed and more than a dozen others injured in the attack.
Iraq has seen an upsurge in violence, with almost daily attacks mainly targeting security forces and Shi'ite civilians.
The unrest has been driven primarily by anger among the Sunni Arab minority over their perceived mistreatment at the hands of the Shi'ite-led government and security forces.
According to UN estimates, 8,868 people were killed in violence in 2013, Iraq's highest annual death toll in five years.
Iraq's first general election since U.S. troops left at the end of 2011 is scheduled to be held on April 30.
