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| Explosions at Iraq election rally in Baghdad 'kill 31' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 31 people have been killed in Iraq as a series of blasts targeted a Shia election rally in Baghdad. | |
| Several people were seriously injured in the attack, which took place at a campaign rally for the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq party. | Several people were seriously injured in the attack, which took place at a campaign rally for the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq party. |
| The attack comes less than a weeks before Iraqis are due to head to the polls in parliamentary elections. | The attack comes less than a weeks before Iraqis are due to head to the polls in parliamentary elections. |
| Iraq has been enduring the worst unrest since it pulled back from the brink of civil war in 2008. | Iraq has been enduring the worst unrest since it pulled back from the brink of civil war in 2008. |
| Three bombs exploded as people left the rally, says the BBC's Nahed Abouzeid in Baghdad. | Three bombs exploded as people left the rally, says the BBC's Nahed Abouzeid in Baghdad. |
| The first two blasts were caused by truck bombs and the third by a roadside bomb. | The first two blasts were caused by truck bombs and the third by a roadside bomb. |
| Desperate act | Desperate act |
| Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq is backed by Iran and is a public supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. | Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq is backed by Iran and is a public supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. |
| This is likely to have antagonised Sunni groups in both countries, our correspondent says. | This is likely to have antagonised Sunni groups in both countries, our correspondent says. |
| Senior Ahl al-Haq official, Wahab al-Taie, said after the attack: "This is a desperate act that will not stop us from moving on and challenging. They wanted to send us a message and they did, but that will not deter us." | Senior Ahl al-Haq official, Wahab al-Taie, said after the attack: "This is a desperate act that will not stop us from moving on and challenging. They wanted to send us a message and they did, but that will not deter us." |
| The rally had been addressed by cleric Sheik Qais al-Khazali, who told the crowd: "We are ready and prepared to defend this nation. Let it be known that Asaib will be the remedy." | The rally had been addressed by cleric Sheik Qais al-Khazali, who told the crowd: "We are ready and prepared to defend this nation. Let it be known that Asaib will be the remedy." |
| Next Wednesday's election will be the first since the US pulled out combat troops in 2011. | Next Wednesday's election will be the first since the US pulled out combat troops in 2011. |
| More than 9,000 candidates will compete for 328 parliamentary seats, but there will be no voting in parts of Sunni-dominated Anbar province, where security forces still battle Islamist and tribal militants for control of the provincial capital Ramadi and nearby Fallujah. | More than 9,000 candidates will compete for 328 parliamentary seats, but there will be no voting in parts of Sunni-dominated Anbar province, where security forces still battle Islamist and tribal militants for control of the provincial capital Ramadi and nearby Fallujah. |