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Baghdad car bombings target Shia pilgrims | |
(40 minutes later) | |
Two separate car bomb attacks targeting Shia Muslim pilgrims in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, have killed at least 25 people, officials say. | |
At least 14 died when the first bomb exploded on a route used by thousands of pilgrims in the Kadhimiya district. | |
The second blast, which happened nearby a few of hours later, killed at least 11 others, police and medics said. | |
On Wednesday, a wave of attacks across the country targeted Shia pilgrims, leaving at least 70 people dead. | |
The Islamic State of Iraq, a Sunni militant umbrella group that includes al-Qaeda, said it was behind those attacks. | |
A statement posted on jihadist web forums on Saturday called the attacks the "blessed Wednesday invasion" and a "serious blow" to its enemies. | A statement posted on jihadist web forums on Saturday called the attacks the "blessed Wednesday invasion" and a "serious blow" to its enemies. |
It was the worst single day of violence in Iraq since the last US troops withdrew in December. Since then there has been a marked deterioration in the country's fragile political process. | It was the worst single day of violence in Iraq since the last US troops withdrew in December. Since then there has been a marked deterioration in the country's fragile political process. |
The most prominent Sunni Arab politician is currently being tried in absentia on terrorism charges. Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi denies financing death squads told to kill Shia government and security officials. | The most prominent Sunni Arab politician is currently being tried in absentia on terrorism charges. Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi denies financing death squads told to kill Shia government and security officials. |
'Terrorists will not discourage us' | |
Shia Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has also faced calls for a confidence motion in parliament from parties within his national unity government, which have accused him of breaking promises to share power. | Shia Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has also faced calls for a confidence motion in parliament from parties within his national unity government, which have accused him of breaking promises to share power. |
Thousands of Shia pilgrims had travelled to Baghdad on Saturday to mark the anniversary of the death of Moussa al-Kadhim, the seventh Shia Imam and great-grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. | |
The first bomb, which exploded just after 12:00 (09:00 GMT) in the northern district of Kadhimiya, was left in a taxi abandoned on a main road used by the pilgrims visiting the Imam's shrine, police said. | |
One of the 22 co-ordinated bombings on Wednesday also targeted Shia pilgrims in Kadhimiya, killing seven people. Another blast near pilgrims' food tents in the Karrada district left another 16 dead. | One of the 22 co-ordinated bombings on Wednesday also targeted Shia pilgrims in Kadhimiya, killing seven people. Another blast near pilgrims' food tents in the Karrada district left another 16 dead. |
"The terrorists will not discourage us, even if they cut off our bodies into pieces," promised a song played over the Moussa al-Kadhim shrine's loudspeakers on Saturday, according to the Associated Press. |