A car bomb exploded in Baghdad on Monday killing at least 13 people and injuring 40 more in the latest violence to hit the war torn nation of Iraq as the country gets closer to its January 30th election date.

The blast reportedly targeted Shia leader Abdel Aziz al-Hakim although he escaped unharmed. The blast took place outside the offices of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI). Al-Hakim was not in the offices at the time of the attack and was reportedly still at his home.

Haitham al-Husseini, a spokesman for al-Hakim, indicated, 'It was a suicide attack near the gate leading to the office. Several of the guards were killed and wounded.'

Al-Hakim is also the lead candidate of the United Iraqi Alliance coalition which is the favorite to control Iraq's new constitutional assembly after the January 30th elections.

Most experts feel that Sunni Muslims, who are a minority of the Iraqi population but dominated the nation under Saddam Hussein's rule, are responsible for the attacks. They say that Sunnis fear retribution and/or a loss of power and influence after the election. Shias make up roughly 60 percent of Iraq's population.

The challenge of maintaining the peace to ensure safe and fair elections remains a daunting one for American forces as the elections are just one month away.