At least 29 people have been killed and more than 130 others wounded in a series of bombings near Shia mosques in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, police have said.

The apparently co-ordinated attacks targeted worshippers leaving Friday prayers at five different mosques, officials and witnesses said.

In the deadliest attack, a car bomb exploded near a Shia mosque in Baghdad's northern al-Shaab neighbourhood, killing at least 23 people and wounding about 35 others, police said.

Witnesses said worshippers were praying on the street outside the crowded mosque when the vehicle exploded.

Near-simultaneous explosions went off near a mosque close to the Diyala bridge in southern Baghdad shortly afterwards, killing four people and wounding 17 others.

'Enemies of Iraq'

The other blasts struck worshippers in the southeastern neighbourhood of Zafaraniyah and the eastern district of Kamaliyah.

There was no immediate claim of responsibilty for the blasts.

"Those who carried out these acts targeting the faithful are the enemies of Iraq, without principles or values," Reuters quoted Major-General Abboud Qanbar, the head of Iraqi forces in Baghdad, as saying.

In video

Deadly blasts rock Baghdad  Iraqi city 'rejects army'

Violence has dropped markedly throughout the country in recent months, but attacks increased in the run-up to the US pullback.

US commanders have warned that security gains made in the last year are fragile and reversible, and they have said attacks may escalate ahead of national elections next year.

More than 430 Iraqis were killed in June alone, which is the highest death toll for 11 months.

Attacks remain especially common in Baghdad.