Thursday, January 5 2006 14:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Karbala (Iraq): At least 40 people were killed and 50 wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up today (Jan 5,2006) near a Shiite shrine in the southern Iraqi city of Karbala, police said.

It was the second bombing in the city, one of the holiest for Shiite Muslims, in as many days.

Police spokessman Rhaman Mushawi said the casualty toll of 40 dead and 50 wounded came from two main hospitals.

Ali Mussa, the director of the one of the hospitals in Karbala, 110 kilometres south of Baghdad, said he had received 11 dead and 20 injured.

Iranians were among the casualties, he said.

Iranian pilgrims have recently started to return to Shiite holy sites in Iraq.

Yesterday (Jan 4,2006), two people were wounded in a car bomb attack in Karbala.

Also 37 people were killed and 45 injured in another suicide bomb attack on a group of Shiite mourners attending a funeral in Mukdadiyah, northwest of Baghdad.