Blood and debris are spread across the streets of Iraq once again.<br/> <br />A wave of at least 20 car and roadside bomb attacks struck in cities across the country, most targeting security forces.<br/> <br />At least 36 were killed and dozens more wounded with the toll mounting hourly.<br/> <br />The deadliest blasts were here in the northern oil town of Kirkuk, where five bombs targeting police patrols killed eight and wounded over 26.<br/> <br />In Baghdad, six separate explosions hit mainly Shi'ite areas.<br/> <br />Other bombs struck Samarra, Taji and Baquba.<br/> <br />Tensions in Iraq have been high between Shi'ites, Sunnis and Kurds in the fragile coalition government since U.S. troops withdrew in December.<br/> <br />The country is suffering less violence than in 2006-2007, but attacks like these have raised fears of a return to the sectarian strife that pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war a few years ago.<br/> <br />Simon Hanna, Reuters. .
