The attacks began at mid morning on Wednesday. The first strike was near the Finance Ministry in northern Baghdad.

Minutes later, a second, deadlier blast went off near the Foreign Ministry. Dozens were killed and more than 250 were wounded. The death toll is expected to climb.

Christopher Hill, the US ambassador to Iraq, condemned the attack.

Christopher Hill,US ambassador to Iraq, said, "I think these particular bombings, in targeting the Foreign Ministry and the Finance Ministry really targeted the entire international community."

A recent rise in bombings has dealt a blow to Iraqi government efforts to restore a sense of normalcy in the capital.

(CCTV August 20, 2009)