The United Nations envoy to Iraq today strongly condemned the wave of coordinated car bomb attacks and shooting that killed and injured dozens of civilians in several areas of Baghdad, the capital.

“Once again, innocent people going about their daily lives were viciously attacked. Nothing can justify such heinous crimes,” stated Martin Kobler, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

Mr. Kobler extended his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those who were injured.

According to the Associated Press, a wave of bombings tore through Baghdad on Tuesday morning, killing at least 57 people and wounding more than 200, highlighting increasing sectarian tensions in Iraq on the eve of the anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Tuesday’s blasts.

According to media reports, the attacks were mostly car bombings and targeted small restaurants, groups of day labourers and bus stops in Baghdad during the morning rush hour.

A suicide bomber driving a truck also attacked a police base in a town south of the capital.

The bombings come ahead of 10 years of the day that the United States announced the start of the invasion on March 19, 2003.

The war in Iraq has killed at least 190,000 people, including men and women in uniform, contractors and civilians and cost the U.S. $2.2 trillion, according to a report published in advance of the 10th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

First released in 2011, the Costs of War report has been compiled and updated by more than 30 economists, anthropologists, lawyers, humanitarian personnel, political scientists, the United National and other oragnizations.