BAGHDAD (AP) -- An Iraqi government spokesman says Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has ordered changes in senior ranks of the military in the wake of bloody attacks that have killed dozens of people in the past few days.

Ali al-Moussawi said on Wednesday that the shakeup will include commanders of divisions and operation commands nationwide. Al-Moussawi would not give more details on the decree, which was issued on Tuesday.

Iraq has witnessed a series of deadly attacks since last week by car bombs and shootings that killed at least 279 people and further raised tensions between Sunnis and the Shiite-led government.

The escalation in violence against Iraq's Sunni and Shiite communities has been reminiscent of some of the worst carnage that put the country on the brink of civil war in 2006-2007.