In Iraq, 127 people have been killed and more than 400, others wounded in a series of bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Tuesday. According to Iraq’s interior ministry, two car bombs exploded near the labour and interior ministries and a suicide attacker driving a car struck a police patrol in Dora, in southern Baghdad. One of the attacks took place in the downtown al-Shourja area, which was packed with shoppers. Many of the killed include women and students. The Iraqi parliament held an emergency session to discuss the bombings. Many MPs have condemned the government's handling of the security situation in the capital. Meanwhile The Iraqi presidency council has announced 7th March next year as the date for the country’s parliamentary election. According to Iraqi national news agency, the decision has been taken in an emergency session of presidency council. Iraqi parliamentarians earlier approved the first amendment to the country’s election law, increasing the number of seats from 275 to 325 in next year’s election. AIR correspondent Dhirendra Ojha reports from Dubai that this was the third coordinated deadly attack to devastate the Iraqi capital since August this year. Yesterday’s blasts took place at the time when Iraq is gearing up for a parliamentary vote in March next year after Parliament’s approval in favor of a new election law. The threat of political violence linked to the poll has been a major concern in Iraq after deadly attacks in Baghdad in August and October this year that killed more than 250 people. Analysts say that the timing of the blasts and the coordinated tactic bear all the hallmarks of an Al-Qaeda operation.