A string of recent attacks in Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq that have killed scores of civilians have prompted growing criticism of the government, which is eager to demonstrate that it can protect the population following the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from the cities nearly two months ago.

Sunday's deadliest attack came from a roadside bomb that targeted an Iraqi police patrol at about 10 a.m. as it was passing through the predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Kamaliyah in eastern Baghdad, said a police official. The blast missed the patrol, killing one civilian and wounding four others who were standing nearby, the official said.

A second roadside bomb targeted a police patrol in the Sunni neighborhood of Dora in southern Baghdad, wounding three civilians, said another police official.

The casualties were confirmed by two hospital officials, who, like the police, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

The attacks come less that two weeks after suicide truck bombers struck the finance and foreign ministries in Baghdad, killing about 100 people.