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| Iraq suicide bomb at Kurdish political rally kills 30 | Iraq suicide bomb at Kurdish political rally kills 30 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A suicide bombing at a rally in north-eastern Iraq has killed 30 people, security officials say. | A suicide bombing at a rally in north-eastern Iraq has killed 30 people, security officials say. |
| The attack took place at a political gathering in the town of Khanaqin, which has a large Kurdish population. | The attack took place at a political gathering in the town of Khanaqin, which has a large Kurdish population. |
| It was the deadliest bombing among a wave of attacks to hit Iraq on Monday. | |
| Iraqis are voting in the country's first parliamentary election since the withdrawal of US troops almost three years ago, but it comes amid the worst unrest since 2008. | Iraqis are voting in the country's first parliamentary election since the withdrawal of US troops almost three years ago, but it comes amid the worst unrest since 2008. |
| People at the rally had gathered to watch television footage of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, casting his vote in Germany. | People at the rally had gathered to watch television footage of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, casting his vote in Germany. |
| Mr Talabani suffered a stroke in December 2012 and has been receiving treatment in Germany. | Mr Talabani suffered a stroke in December 2012 and has been receiving treatment in Germany. |
| "The attacker snuck among the crowds near the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's [Mr Talabani's party] headquarters and blew himself up, causing a tragic massacre," a police officer told Reuters news agency. | |
| At least 50 others were injured in the blast. | |
| Polling stations targeted | Polling stations targeted |
| The attack was one of several attacks across Iraq on Monday. A total of at least 50 people were killed. | |
| A bomb at a polling station in Baghdad's Mansour district killed at least three security officers. | |
| Suicide bombers also launched attacks near voting centres in the Kirkuk and Tuz Khurmatu in the north. | |
| Meanwhile, journalists in the northern city of Mosul who were covering the vote were injured after their security convoy was struck by a bomb. | |
| Many of the attackers were disguised in army and police uniforms, Reuters said. | |
| On Friday, at least 31 people were killed as a series of blasts targeted a Shia election rally in Baghdad. The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant - an al-Qaeda offshoot also known as ISIL - said it had carried out the attacks. | On Friday, at least 31 people were killed as a series of blasts targeted a Shia election rally in Baghdad. The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant - an al-Qaeda offshoot also known as ISIL - said it had carried out the attacks. |
| Soldiers, police and advance voters were casting their ballots on Monday. The majority of Iraq's electorate will vote on Wednesday. | |
| More than 9,000 candidates are competing for 328 parliamentary seats. 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 Falluja. | More than 9,000 candidates are competing for 328 parliamentary seats. 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 Falluja. |