(CNN) -- At least 61 people were killed and scores wounded Wednesday in the latest wave of attacks in the Iraqi capital and across the country. Bombings and shootings, aimed at security forces and civilians alike, made it an especially bloody day as sectarian violence flared up. The United Nations said 2013 was the deadliest year in Iraq since 2008, with almost 8,000 people killed, most of them civilians. Fears of all-out sectarian war have increased since violence broke out in Anbar province in recent days. Much of the violence recorded Wednesday was in and around Baghdad. Twenty-two people were killed and 74 were wounded by seven car bombs and two roadside bombs that exploded in the Iraqi capital, targeting mainly Shiite areas, police said.
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NEW: At least 61 people have been killed across Iraq on Wednesday
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Seven car bombs, two roadside bombs explode in Baghdad, targeting mainly Shiite areas
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Iraq is seeing a recent uptick in violence
Iraq: Moderates are hard to find as 'bad old days' return in @placeholder