- Title: IRAQ: Two bombs kill at least 20 near Iraqi Shi'ite city of Kerbala
- Date: 28th July 2010
- Summary: SOUTH KERBALA, IRAQ (JULY 26, 2010) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (AGENCY POOL) MAN WALKING IN STREET LITTERED WITH DEBRIS OF CAR BOMB PIECES/ WRECKAGE OF CAR BOMB LYING AHEAD IRAQI AND SECURITY FORCES GATHERING NEAR WRECKAGE OF CAR BOMB IRAQI MILITARY VEHICLE DAMAGED BY BLAST/ IRAQI SOLDIER WALKING NEAR EDGE OF PAVEMENT SPLATTERED WITH BLOOD WRECKAGE OF CAR BOMB / IRAQI SOLDIER C
- Embargoed: 12th August 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Iraq
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
- Reuters ID: LVA1A521XGWVS84ADKGZCXC7C2A0
- Story Text: Two car bombs exploded near the holy Shi'ite city of Kerbala in southern Iraq on Monday (July 27), killing 20 mainly Shi'ite pilgrims and wounding 54, an Iraqi official said.
The two car bombs in southern Iraq targeted Shi'ite pilgrims visiting Kerbala, 80 km (50 miles) southwest of Baghdad, ahead of the anniversary of Imam Mohammed al-Mehdi's birthday for which several hundred thousand people are expected this week.
The blasts took place on the road between Kerbala and the holy Shi'ite city of Najaf, Mohammed al-Moussawi, head of the Kerbala provincial council, told Reuters.
A police source said there were a total of 30 killed and wounded many others by one car bomb.
The birthday is one of several annual pilgrimages that have evolved into shows of strength for Iraq's majority Shi'ite community since the fall of Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein, who curbed such rites.
Overall violence has dropped significantly in Iraq since the height of sectarian warfare in 2006-07 but bombings and shootings are still occur regularly.
Earlier this month determined Shi'ite pilgrims defied suicide and roadside bombs to participate in an annual rite at the Imam Moussa al-Kadhim shrine in Baghdad.
Attacks killed more than 40 pilgrims and wounded hundreds of others despite the presence of 200,000 troops and police deployed in the streets of the Iraqi capital. Hundreds of thousands of Shi'ites commemorated the death of the medieval Shi'ite holy man.
In Baghdad a suicide bomber blew up a mini-van he was driving close to the entrance of Al Arabiya tv's office in the Harithiya district, killing a cleaner and three guards, city security spokesman Major General Qassim al-Moussawi said. Ten people were wounded.
Dubai-based Al Arabiya TV also reported four people were killed. An Interior Ministry source put the death toll higher at six people and said about 20 others were wounded.
Former deputy prime minister Salam al-Zobai, a member of the cross-sectarian Iraqiya bloc in parliament, was among the wounded along with five of his security guards, his spokesman said. Zobai's house was near the blast.
The attack occurred a few weeks after Iraqi security forces warned that a number of media including foreign outlets such as Arabiya could be targeted by the Sunni al Qaeda insurgency.
Tensions have been rising since a March 7 parliamentary election that produced no clear winner.
Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurdish political factions have been jockeying for position in a coalition government and insurgents appear to be trying to take advantage of the political vacuum as the United States prepares to end combat operations formally by Aug. 31 - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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