Deadly blasts target Iraq Shias

An explosion in the southern Iraqi city of Basra has left at least five people dead and 37 more injured, hospital sources say.

The explosion, reportedly caused by a car bomb, struck a busy street in the city’s south-western Qibla district.

Earlier in the day, two bombings in Iraq’s holy Shia cities of Karbala and Najaf killed at least 14 people.

Basra, in the largely Shia Muslim south of Iraq, has been comparatively free of insurgent violence this year.

However, a twin car bomb attack in August left more than 40 people dead.

Monday’s three attacks came as Iraq’s top political leaders met publicly for the first time with the aim of ending a protracted crisis over forming a new government.

Iraq has been without a government for eight months after inconclusive general elections in March.

Monday’s attack in Basra struck a busy street filled with restaurants, cafes and shops, sources said.

Security forces have cordoned off the area and the injured have been taken to hospital.

Police say the target for the earlier blast in Karbala was a bus carrying Iranian pilgrims

Earlier, Shia pilgrims were targeted in the blast in Karbala, south of Baghdad, which killed seven people.

Hours later, the explosion in nearby Najaf killed at least seven more. Iranian pilgrims were among those killed and injured.

The holy places draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from all over Iraq and from neighbouring Iran every year.

Pilgrims on the routes to the holy places have also often been attacked by bombers, who are believed to be Sunni militants.

Last week about a dozen co-ordinated bombs targeted Shia districts across Baghdad, killing more than 60 people and wounding hundreds.

Those attacks came two days after at least 52 people were killed as police stormed a church in Baghdad where hostages were being held.

Analysts have said that the spike in violence could be a last-ditch attempt by al-Qaeda to exploit the political vacuum in the country.

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