A car bomb has exploded near a police headquarters in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk in Iraq killing seven people and wounding 30 others, as a series of explosions have hit the country.

An ambulance rushed to the scene of the explosion at Police headquarters. At the site the burnt out remains of the car are still smouldering. An Iraqi soldier stands nearby the traces of blood on the ground.

On the ground a soldiers vest and ammunition have been laid to rest in a pile and the ruins of the police station are all that remains after this massive explosion.

Violence has increased dramatically in the last few days across the country. Two explosions rocked the holy Shi'ite city of Kerbala which killed 13 people and wounded 48 and in central Baghdad a suicide bomber killed three people and wounded 21 more.

The attacks come ahead of next week's Arab League summit which is to be held in the capital, Baghdad.