23 people were killed on Monday in series of bombing across Iraq.

23 people were killed on Monday in series of bombing across Iraq.

The violence struck the northern provinces of Kirkuk and Diyala and south of Baghdad in Babil province, and targeted government officials, security forces and civilians in the lead-up to major commemoration ceremony of Arbaeen, the 40th day of Imam Hussein’s martyrdom.

In the deadliest attack, seven people -- three women, two children and two men -- were killed when three houses were blown up in the town of Mussayib south of Baghdad, a local police officer and a medic said. Four others were wounded.

According to AFP, officials said the civilians were apparently targeted because they were Shiite Muslims, ahead of the Arbaeen ceremony this week.

In the northern city of Kirkuk, three policemen were killed and four critically wounded by a roadside bomb.

Meanwhile, two people were killed by a car bomb outside government offices in Hilla, south of Baghdad, as the provincial governor was arriving for work.