Iraqi authorities say a series of blasts have rocked central Baghdad and gunmen are locked in an apparently coordinated battle with security forces. They say at least 12 people have been killed and at least 30 are wounded.

Police say the attacks all happened near the Allawi area, not far from the heavily fortified Green Zone that houses several foreign embassies and Iraqi government offices.Hospital officials confirmed the casualty numbers. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to talk to the media.

Violence in Iraq has subsided from its peak in 2006 and 2007, but deadly attacks remain frequent a decade after the US-led invasionOther sources reported the death toll of the Baghdad blast as 18 whereas the number of injured were reported as more than 50.