In Iraq suicide bomber kills 33 at Shiite funeral

BAGHDAD (AP) – A suicide car bomber has struck a Shiite funeral procession, killing 33 people as suspected al-Qaida militants stepped up apparent efforts to provoke a counterattack by Shiite militias on Sunnis that could pave the way toward open sectarian warfare now that U.S. troops have left Iraq.

The powerful Friday blast — the second deadliest attack in Iraq this month — set nearby stores and cars ablaze alongside scattered flesh and mutilated bodies. It shattered windows and damaged walls in the local hospital, wounding a nurse and four patients. Within minutes, the hospital was scrambling to treat scores of others.

"It was a huge explosion," said Salam Hussein, who was watching the funeral procession from his grocery store.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack in the predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Zafaraniyah in southwestern Baghdad. But the bombing resembled previous attacks by al-Qaida in Iraq.

Source: Ustoday.com read more