State media: Suicide bomber kills at least 20 in Iraq

[Rhiannon12866]

Source: CNN

Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- A suicide bomber disguised as a policeman targeted Shiite pilgrims Saturday outside the southern Iraqi city of Basra, killing at least 20 people and wounding 70, according to authorities and state-run TV.

The bomber struck a police checkpoint near a Shiite mosque where many of the pilgrims were headed to mark a revered holy day, the end of a 40-day mourning period known as Arbaeen, Interior Ministry officials said.

There were conflicting casualty reports, with state-run Al Iraqiya reporting there were at least 20 people killed and 70 wounded, while Interior Ministry officials told CNN there were at least 10 dead and 30 wounded. Conflicting reports are common in Iraq in the aftermath of an attack.

Scores of pilgrims -- who make the journey on foot -- have been killed and wounded in recent days in attacks blamed on Sunni extremists, who have routinely targeted the pilgrims.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/14/world/meast/iraq-violence/?hpt=hp_t3

[Rhiannon12866]

1. Update: Iraq suicide bomb kills 50 in Basra pilgrims attack

At least 50 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack on Shia pilgrims in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, Iraqi police and security sources say.

The attack was aimed at pilgrims marking the festival of Arbain, one of the main holy days of the Shia calendar, reports say.

Security had been tight amid fears of insurgent attacks during the festival.

Scores of people have been killed in attacks on pilgrims in the last few weeks, reports say.

Medical sources in Basra say they have also treated 91 people injured in the attack.

The attacker targeted Muslim Shia pilgrims at a checkpoint they use on their way to a major Shia mosque in the Zubeir district, some 20km (12 miles) south-west of Basra.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16560042

[KoKo]

2. sigh.....it still goes on. I've read that many cities still don't have consistent electricity

even after all the money we poured into the country. And, the violence goes on..

[Lasher]

3. I keep remembering something Saddam said.

He told his people, "If there's any killing to be done here, I'm the one who's going to do it." He was a brutal leader but I've been wondering if a more benevolent government can ever control these extremists.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. A friend of mine

Who was born in Jerusalem, spent his childhood in Jordan and went to school in Iraq, courtesy of Saddam Hussein (he's been in this country since 1983), once told me that if Saddam hadn't existed, they would have had to invent him. They're used to a strongman and don't know how to deal with anything else. It's hard to export democracy if the recipients have no concept of what that is... :(