Two bombs exploded in an open-air market in Baghdad on Friday, killing at least 14 people in the latest round of spiraling violence six months after the last U.S. troops withdrew from Iraq.

More than 160 people have died this month in attacks mostly attributed to Sunni insurgents linked to al-Qaida. They are targeting security forces and Shiite civilians in an attempt to weaken Iraq's fragile government, which is mired in deadlock and struggling to provide security and even basic services like electricity.

Friday's explosions, timed within minutes of each other, came at midmorning in the mostly Shiite neighborhood of Husseiniyah in northeast Baghdad. No one claimed responsibility.

Mohammed Hussein al-Jizani said he was haggling with customers in his shoe store next to the market when he heard a loud blast and ran outside.

"Three minutes later, there was a second explosion as people and policemen were rushing to the site of the first bomb," al-Jizani said.