Iraqi officials say twin car bombs exploded outside the northern city of Mosul Monday, killing a prison official and one civilian.
Police say the bombs wounded at least 16 others when they detonated at a residential compound for security guards working at Badoosh prison. The prison holds convicted insurgents, al-Qaida militants and other criminals from across Iraq.
Meanwhile in Baghdad, two car bombs killed at least one person and wounded seven others, including four police officers.
Insurgents have increasingly targeted Iraqi police and government employees in recent months.
The latest violence comes shortly after the chief of staff of Iraq's armed forces (Babaker Zibari) told VOA (Persian News Network) that unlike in the past, al-Qaida members and other terrorists now have no permanent bases in Iraq.