Baghdad, March 6
At least 118 Shiite pilgrims were slaughtered in attacks across Iraq today, sparking fears of reprisals that could frustrate efforts by Iraqi and US forces to quell sectarian violence. The deadliest single attack was in Hilla, south of the capital, where two suicide bombers triggered explosives amid a packed crowd of worshippers walking to the holy city of Karbala, Lieutenant Karim al-Hamzawi said.
Dr Mohammed Timini from Hilla Hospital's emergency room said 90 pilgrims were killed and at least 160 wounded, as queues of ambulances and private cars brought in scores of bloodied bodies.
“Among the wounded, 50 are in a critical condition. 80 per cent of the casualties are young men,” he added.
The Hilla bombings triggered fury amid the local Shiite population, and there was gunfire as militants accused government security forces of failing to protect the pilgrims from Sunni extremists.
Elsewhere, separate attacks in Baghdad and Latifiyah killed at least 28 more Shiites.
— AFP
