Scenes of devastation in central Iraq.<br/> <br />Bombs kill at least 44 people at markets Tuesday. Authorities say the attacks bore the hallmarks of al Qaeda-linked Sunni militants - and may have been aimed at Shi'ite Muslims.<br/> <br />One attack near a Shiite mosque left at least 40 people dead. Police say 75 people were wounded in the attack.<br/> <br />Earlier, two bombs exploded in a vegetable market near the Iraqi city of Kerbala, killing at least four people.<br/> <br />A witness describes what happened.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HASSAN, EYEWITNESS, SAYING:<br/> <br />"A bomb went off here. When people ran to the other side, another bomb went off. (Q: Have you seen any casualties?) There were many casualties. Why are young people being killed in this way? What did they do?"<br/> <br />Attacks have increased in Iraq in recent weeks, raising fears that the country may slip back into widespread sectarian violence.<br/> <br />Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
