Bombings in Karbala, 20 killed

BAGHDAD : At least 20 people were killed and 75 wounded on Friday when two car bombs blew up in Iraq’s holy city of Kerbala as hundreds of thousands of Shia pilgrims observed a major religious rite, hospital sources said.

The attack on the final and most important day of the Arbain festival was the third major strike this week.

Police said the bombings occurred on the outskirts of the city 80 km (50 miles) south of Baghdad, but details were sketchy. Arbain marks the end of 40 days of mourning for Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, who died in a 7th century battle at Kerbala.

A bomb planted on a cart pulled by a motorbike killed at least 20 Shia pilgrims on Wednesday as they streamed into Kerbala. More than 40 were killed on the outskirts of the capital on Monday as they began the long walk to Kerbala.