25 killed as Iraq car bombings target shrine city, media

KARBALA, Iraq — Twin car bombs killed 21 people in the Shiite holy city of Karbala in southern Iraq on Monday, while four people died in a suicide attack on a Saudi-funded television channel in Baghdad.The suicide blasts in Karbala, where religious commemoration ceremonies are due to begin on Wednesday, occurred at around 7:00 pm (1600 GMT) and also wounded at least 47 people, a provincial health official said.Eyewitnesses said one vehicle exploded at a security checkpoint on the southern outskirts of the city, the site of revered shrines to Imam Hussein and Imam Abbas, and the second blew up a short time later just metres (yards) away."Most of the killed and wounded are policemen and civilians," said Salim Kadhim, spokesman for Karbala's health directorate, adding that 21 people had died and 47 were wounded."Most of the wounded civilians are pilgrims from other provinces," he said.The attack came two days before the birthday of the Mahdi, the 12th and last imam. Shiites -- the majority of Iraq's population -- believe the missing imam will return to Earth on the Day of Judgment.Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are expected in Karbala and the nearby holy city of Najaf for the ceremonies.US and Iraqi officials have warned of the dangers of an upsurge in violence as negotiations on forming a new governing coalition have dragged on, more than four months after parliamentary elections.Meanwhile, a suspected Al-Qaeda suicide bomber blew up a car outside the Baghdad offices of Al-Arabiya television in the city centre, killing four people a month after the Dubai-based channel was warned of insurgent threats.The bomber struck at around 9:30 am (0630 GMT), leaving a massive crater and sending a plume of smoke into the air that could be seen from several kilometres (miles) away.Majid Hamid, a journalist for the pan-Arab satellite channel, said four people were killed -- three security guards and a female office assistant. That toll was confirmed by an official at Al-Yarmuk hospital in west Baghdad.An interior minis

Add comment

Nick
Content

Submit