Attacks in Karbala kill 10

Blasts at a passport and identity card office in the Iraqi city of Karbala killed 10 people on Sunday, with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki urging unity in the face of sectarianism". The series of four explosions in Karbala also wounded around 100 others and caused major damage to nearby vehicles and buildings, leading security forces to cordon off the scene and close all entrances to the city, an AFP report said. Maliki and parliament Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi both quickly condemned the attack, with the premier saying the violence "emphasised the need to unify our response and... stop making remarks that help achieve the targets of criminals and those who are trying to raise sectarianism." Violence is down across Iraq from its peak in 2006 and 2007, but attacks remain common. A total of 239 people were killed in violence in Iraq in August, according to official figures