An outbreak of violence in Iraq this week has cast a long shadow over the country's upcoming elections, the first since the United States withdrew its troops at the end of 2011. It has also laid bare the Middle East country's fragile security, which remains vulnerable to terrorist groups affiliated to al-Qaida.

On Monday, a wave of attacks, including more than 30 bombings, struck a number of Iraqi cities, killing at least 51 people and wounding some 268, in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad alone 38 people were killed and 119 others injured. There was further bloodshed on Tuesday, although on a smaller scale.

The attacks, which happened only five days ahead of the country's provincial elections, has fueled concerns about whether the Iraqi security forces can guarantee a relatively peaceful environment for the upcoming provincial elections.