The summit is seen as the country's debut on the regional stage following the withdrawal of US troops in December and Iraq's government is anxious to show it can reinforce security to host its neighbours.
The deadliest attack on Tuesday occurred in the southern holy Shia city of Kerbala, where twin explosions killed at least 13 people and wounded 48, the sources said.
In the northern city of Kirkuk, a car bomb exploded near a police headquarters, killing seven and wounding 30.
In central Baghdad, a suicide car bomber killed three people and wounded 21.
Blasts also occurred in Baiji, Samarra, Tuz Khurmato, Daquq and Dhuluiya, all north of Baghdad, and Hilla and Latifiya in the south.
Although violence in Iraq has declined since the height of sectarian fighting in 2006 and 2007, bombings and shootings still occur on a daily basis nine years after the 2003 US-led invasion.
On Monday evening, bombers struck five times in the northern Diyala province, killing at least three people and wounding more than 30, police said.
The Arab League summit is due to be held in Baghdad on March 27-29.
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@j. von hettlingen: what do you mean Shia led government??? what has usa done in this country for the past 10 years? this is the result. The same is happening in Afghanistan. Both the countries invaded by USA.
It must have been an embarrassment for the Shia-led government to let the world see how incapable it is to maintain law and order, just a week ahead of the Arab League Summit. These co-ordinated bombings revealed also how deeply flawed the security forces are, despite tallks about training and equipping them. Strangely enough, the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in the north, was unaffected by the wave of bombings
and always nobody from the Sunni side or Liberal extremist side will say anything about this. As if its ok and acceptable to kill shias.
We are doing our own Quran & Ahlulbayth Conference on 25th March in Nishter Park karachi. There we will tell the whole world to protest with us.
and again I am telling everyone if we took arms up and do Sunni target killing, Pakistan will be history. we love this country sooo much that we don't want to play in the hands of enemies of Pakistan.
For humanity's sake say something about killing of Shias/Minorities in Pakistan. Hindus have clearly asked that they can go to India. The baloch are being funded by India. We have not gone to anyone else because we love Pakistan. Sunnis should help us by standing with us on 25th March against Shia killing in Nishter Park. Please its a request before its too late.