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Iraq soldiers - Source: Reuters -
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A suicide bomber blew herself up among Shi'ite pilgrims on the
outskirts of Iraq's capital, killing at least 41 people in the
latest attack in a violent run-up to next month's election.
Iraq is trying to leave behind years of warfare set off by the 2003
US invasion as it moves to cement security gains made in the last
two years, prepare for a US withdrawal and revamp an oil sector
that gives Iraq nearly all of its revenues.
But Shi'ite gatherings remain a frequent target for Sunni Islamists
such as al Qaeda, seeking to reignite the sectarian slaughter that
peaked in 2006-07, while recent months have also seen major
coordinated assaults by suicide bombers on Baghdad. An
interior ministry source and a police official said 41 people had
been killed and 106 wounded in the attack in a tent where pilgrims
on an arduous religious trek are provided with food and
drink.
"People were serving food to the pilgrims. A woman wrapped in an
explosives belt went inside the tent and killed and wounded (many
people) and children," said pilgrim Sahib, who was near the
tent.
The office of Baghdad security spokesman Major General Qassim
al-Moussawi said that the bombing occurred in a crowd and that 19
people were killed, with 80 wounded.
Several hours later a roadside bomb in southern Baghdad wounded 12
pilgrims, an interior ministry source said.
The attacks took place as the nation gears up for a March election
when Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is expected to run on improved
security and on oil deals that may vault Iraq into the world's top
three crude exporters, from 11th currently.
Thousands of Shi'ites have flooded the streets for the start of a
long walk to the southern city of Kerbala, 80 km southwest of
Baghdad, for the religious rite of Arbain.
More violence is likely during the Arbain religious period and
before the election as suspected Sunni Islamist groups try to
undermine Maliki's Shi'ite-led government.
On January 25, suicide bombers attacked three hotels in the Iraqi
capital, killing more than 30 people.
The coordinated assault was similar to attacks on December 8,
October 25 and August 19 last year in which hundreds died, and US
military leaders say they appeared aimed at undermining public
faith in the security forces and in Maliki.
Last year, a suicide bomber killed 39 pilgrims during the Arbain
pilgrimage. Sectarian carnage escalated after the destruction of a
revered golden domed Shi'ite mosque in Samarra, 100 km north of
Baghdad, in February 2006.
Millions of Shi'ites from Iraq, Iran, Bahrain and other nations
have defied the threat of suicide bombings since the 2003 US-led
invasion toppled the Sunni-led government of Saddam Hussein to
visit Iraq's Shi'ite holy sites.
Arbain marks 40 days of mourning for Hussein, the Prophet
Mohammad's grandson, who died in a seventh century battle at
Kerbala. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, beating their heads and
chests in ritual mourning, pour into the city for the rite.
Many walk from hundreds of kilometres away. Arbain was once
suppressed like other Shi'ite gatherings under Saddam.
Tens of thousands of troops and police have been deployed to
protect pilgrims and also around the Imam Hussein shrine in
Kerbala. But suspected Sunni Islamist extremists, who view Shi'ite
Muslims as apostates, still manage to get through.
