Friday, 18 February 2005At least 18 people have been killed and dozens of others injured in twin attacks on Shia Muslim mosques in Baghdad, Iraqi security sources say.
In the deadliest blast, at least 17 worshippers are said to have died when a suicide bomber struck at prayer time.
Security had been stepped up as Shias prepare to mark the holiest day of their calendar, the observance of the Ashura festival.
It follows a period of relative calm in Iraq after regualar insurgent attacks.
The blasts came as talks were due to get under way among Iraqi political parties to form a new government following January's national poll, which saw Shia parties triumph.
Bomb belt
In the first attack, a bomber mingled with worshippers at the packed mosque in southern Doura district before triggering the blast at about 1300 local time (1000 GMT).
"The attack was carried out by a suicide bomber wearing an explosives belt at the Kazimain mosque in Abu Dishr near Doura," a police officer told AFP news agency.
Ahmed Zaher, a doctor at Baghdad's al-Yarmuk hospital, told AP news agency casualties were being brought in in cars and pick-up trucks.
Shortly after the blast in Doura, a second explosion hit a mosque in western Baghdad.
One person was killed and four others injured, police and hospital sources said.
Iraqi security forces have increased security for Ashura to try to avoid a repeat of last year's bomb attacks against Shia worshippers in Baghdad and Karbala that killed at least 181 people.
Iraq's land borders have been closed until Tuesday.
Predominantly Sunni Muslim militants have vowed to continue targeting Iraq's Shia majority, which is set to take power for the first time in the country's history.
Ashura marks the death 1,300 years ago of the Prophet Mohammed's grandson, which widened the split between Sunni and Shia Islam. |
Friday, 18 February 2005
BBC News
|
|
