BAGHDAD, Oct 11: At least six bombs exploded around Baghdad on Wednesday as the death toll from a brutal civil conflict continued to rise steeply and a top UN official warned that Iraq is spiralling out of control.

The leader of a minority was shot dead in front of his home and US soldiers battled to control a fire triggered by a mortar attack on an ammunition store.

“Our appeal goes to everybody who can curb the violence: religious, ethnic, cultural leaders have to see that this has spiralled totally out of control,” said United Nations Under Secretary Gen Jan Egeland in Geneva. “Sectarian violence and military operations have resulted in the displacement of 315,000 people in eight months,” he said.—AFP