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'Dozens dead' in Baghdad bombing 'Dozens dead' in Baghdad bombing
(about 3 hours later)
At least 60 people have been killed by a bomb blast in the eastern Sadr City area of Baghdad, say officials. At least 69 people have been killed by a bomb blast in the eastern Sadr City area of Baghdad, say Iraqi officials.
Iraqi police said the bomb went off in a market place in the predominantly Shia area of the Iraqi capital. Police said the bomb went off in a market place in the predominantly Shia area of the Iraqi capital.
More than 130 people were also reported to have been injured in the blast, one of the worst in Iraq this year.More than 130 people were also reported to have been injured in the blast, one of the worst in Iraq this year.
It comes less than a week before US soldiers pull out of all Iraqi cities in advance of a complete withdrawal by the end of 2011. It comes less than a week before US soldiers pull out of all Iraqi cities, a move the US said would not be affected by a recent surge in violence.
'Horrific'
An interior ministry official told the AFP news agency the blast struck the market place at about 1930 local time (1630 GMT).An interior ministry official told the AFP news agency the blast struck the market place at about 1930 local time (1630 GMT).
I saw cars flying in the air because of the force of the explosion Najim Ali, eyewitness
The official said the bomb was hidden underneath a motorised cart carrying vegetables for sale.The official said the bomb was hidden underneath a motorised cart carrying vegetables for sale.
"I heard a boom and saw a ball of fire," said Najim Ali, a 30-year-old father who was injured in the blast."I heard a boom and saw a ball of fire," said Najim Ali, a 30-year-old father who was injured in the blast.
"I saw cars flying in the air because of the force of the explosion," he was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency."I saw cars flying in the air because of the force of the explosion," he was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
Market stalls were set on fire and an official told the Associated Press that people standing 600m (yards) away were hit by shrapnel. Raad Latif, a local shop owner, said the scene after the blast was "horrific".
The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says Sadr City has been struck often and provocatively in the past. He said people ran to help the injured after hearing the explosion but were initially kept back as security forces tried to get emergency vehicles to the scene.
The latest blast, apparently timed to hit the market at one of its busiest times, was one of the most deadly single attacks in the city so far this year, says our correspondent. "After a while they came to their senses and allowed us to help as much as we could. The scene was horrific," he told Reuters.
No delay Another witness told the Associated Press news agency he heard a sound like "unbelievable thunder" and was knocked to the ground by "a hurricane".
Market stalls were set on fire and an official told AP that people standing 600m away were hit by shrapnel.
'Confident'
Under an agreement with the Iraqi authorities, most of the 133,000 US troops in Iraq are due to leave the country's cities and towns and withdraw to military bases by 30 June.
US troops are due to withdraw from Iraqi cities by the end of JuneUS troops are due to withdraw from Iraqi cities by the end of June
There has been a recent rise in violence in Iraq, which, correspondents say, shows insurgents are intent on making the country's security situation appear unstable as the US withdrawal deadline approaches. Combat operations across Iraq are due to end by September 2010 and all US troops will be out of the country by the end of 2011.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the top US commander in the country, Gen Ray Odierno, had told President Barack Obama that he felt "confident in moving forward" with the withdrawal.
"Gen Odierno has mentioned that we have seen violence greatly decrease even in the past many months from what it was," he said.
Mr Gibbs said Mr Obama had no plans to change the withdrawal arrangements.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says the location of the latest blast was significant, as Sadr City has been struck often and provocatively in the past.
The attacks have been attributed to Sunni militants' attempts to provoke sectarian tensions.
Attacks have increased as the US withdrawal approaches
But this tactic has failed since the Shia Mehdi militia, which used to retaliate, was disbanded last year, says our correspondent, and the attacks now only succeed in killing civilians.
The attacks are the latest in a violent week in Iraq.
On Monday, at least 29 people were killed in attacks in Baghdad and elsewhere.On Monday, at least 29 people were killed in attacks in Baghdad and elsewhere.
Among them were three people, including a four-year-old child, killed in the Shaab district of north Baghdad and five killed by a parked car bomb in the central Baghdad Karrada district. Three people, including a four-year-old child, were killed in the Shaab district of north Baghdad, while a car bomb killed five people in the capital's central Karrada district.
More than 70 people died in a truck bombing in Kirkuk on Saturday. In the largest attack of the year, more than 70 people died in a truck bombing in Kirkuk on Saturday.
But Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has said the violence will not delay the withdrawal and that it will be a triumph for the country. But Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has said the violence will not delay the withdrawal which, he said, would ultimately be a triumph for the country.
On Saturday, he urged Iraqis: "Don't lose heart if a breach of security occurs here or there." He urged Iraqis: "Don't lose heart if a breach of security occurs here or there."
Most of the 133,000 US troops in Iraq are due to leave Iraq's cities and towns and withdraw to military bases by 30 June.
The withdrawal is part of an agreement that will see combat operations across Iraq end by September 2010 and all US troops out of the country by the end of 2011.