At least 40 Shiite pilgrims killed in Iraq

KARBALA, Iraq, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- A suicide bomber killed at least 40 Muslim pilgrims and wounded 60 others as they traveled to Karbala for a Shiite holiday Sunday, the Interior Ministry said.

An Interior Ministry official said the attack occurred in Iskandariya as Shiite faithful traveled to Karbala for the festival of Arbaeen, adding that women and children were among those killed,CNN reported.

The Shiite festival marks the conclusion of 40 days of mourning for Imam Hussien, the grandson of the Muslim prophet Mohammad.

Earlier in the day, three people were killed and more than 30 were injured when militants attacked another group of pilgrims in southern Baghdad. The attacks came as Iraqi officials expressed concern for pilgrims' safety in the area, CNN said.

Also Sunday, Kirkuk police told the Kuwaiti news agency KUNA an unnamed Awakening Council member was killed when a car bomb exploded near a patrol station monitored by members loyal to the group.

A double suicide bomb attack in Fallujah killed Sheik Ibrahim Mutayri al-Mohammedi and his aide Saturday. Police officials said five al-Qaida members also died in the explosion, the BBC said Sunday.