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Baghdad Shias mourn bomb victims Baghdad Shias mourn bomb victims
(about 1 hour later)
Funeral processions have begun in Iraq for scores of victims of Thursday's car bomb attacks in Sadr City, Baghdad's main Shia Muslim district.Funeral processions have begun in Iraq for scores of victims of Thursday's car bomb attacks in Sadr City, Baghdad's main Shia Muslim district.
Mourners cried as they walked beside vehicles taking coffins south to Najaf, the traditional burial place for Shias.Mourners cried as they walked beside vehicles taking coffins south to Najaf, the traditional burial place for Shias.
As processions began, the death toll from the blasts rose to 202. Meanwhile in the northern city of Talafar a car bomb killed at least 22 people. As processions began, the death toll from the blasts rose to 202. Meanwhile a car bomb killed 22 in northern Iraq.
Baghdad is under an indefinite curfew and its airport has been closed. The group headed by radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr threatened to quit Iraq's unity government over security issues.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has appealed for restraint. The group - which has so far been a key supporter of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's Shia-led government - urged the PM to cancel a planned meeting with US President George W Bush in Jordan next week, saying US-led forces were responsible for the violence in Iraq.
"We denounce sectarian practices that aim to destroy the unity of the nation," Mr Maliki said in a television broadcast on Thursday. "We will withdraw from the government and parliament if the prime minister meets Bush," the group said on Friday.
Death toll hits record high Who are the armed groups? Announcing the 24-hour curfew, the authorities said Baghdad's seven million residents must remain at home until further notice. Death toll hits record high Who are the armed groups? The government has imposed an indefinite, 24-hour curfew in Baghdad.
The only people and vehicles allowed on the streets on Friday were those taking part in the funeral processions.The only people and vehicles allowed on the streets on Friday were those taking part in the funeral processions.
Thousands of men, women and children beat their chests, chanted and cried as they accompanied vehicles carrying victims of the bombings to Najaf, 160 km (100 miles) south of Baghdad.Thousands of men, women and children beat their chests, chanted and cried as they accompanied vehicles carrying victims of the bombings to Najaf, 160 km (100 miles) south of Baghdad.
Bodies have begun arriving there and will be buried in the city's ancient cemetery.Bodies have begun arriving there and will be buried in the city's ancient cemetery.
Show of unityShow of unity
Thursday's multiple car bombs in Sadr City - in which 250 people were also wounded - was the deadliest attack in Iraq since the US-led invasion of 2003. Thursday's multiple car bomb attacks in Sadr City - in which 250 people were also wounded - were the deadliest in Iraq since the US-led invasion of 2003.
Leaders of Iraq's Shia, Sunni and Kurdish communities have appealed for calm in a show of unity.Leaders of Iraq's Shia, Sunni and Kurdish communities have appealed for calm in a show of unity.
BLOODIEST DAYS OF VIOLENCE 23 Nov 2006 - 202 deadWave of car bomb and mortar blasts strike Sadr City in Baghdad7 April 2006 - 85 deadTriple suicide bombing at Shia Buratha mosque in Baghdad5 Jan 2006 - 110 deadSuicide bombers hit Karbala shrine and police recruiting station in Ramadi14 Sept 2005 - 182 deadSuicide car bomber targets Baghdad labourers in worst of a series of bombs28 Feb 2005 - 114 deadSuicide car bomb hits government jobseekers in Hilla2 March 2004 - 140 deadSuicide bombers attack Shia festival-goers in Karbala and Baghdad1 Feb 2004 - 105 deadTwin attacks on Kurdish parties' offices in IrbilBLOODIEST DAYS OF VIOLENCE 23 Nov 2006 - 202 deadWave of car bomb and mortar blasts strike Sadr City in Baghdad7 April 2006 - 85 deadTriple suicide bombing at Shia Buratha mosque in Baghdad5 Jan 2006 - 110 deadSuicide bombers hit Karbala shrine and police recruiting station in Ramadi14 Sept 2005 - 182 deadSuicide car bomber targets Baghdad labourers in worst of a series of bombs28 Feb 2005 - 114 deadSuicide car bomb hits government jobseekers in Hilla2 March 2004 - 140 deadSuicide bombers attack Shia festival-goers in Karbala and Baghdad1 Feb 2004 - 105 deadTwin attacks on Kurdish parties' offices in Irbil
Iraq's most prominent Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, "urged people not to react illegally and maintain self-restraint and calm," one of his officials said. Iraq's most prominent Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, urged people "not to react illegally and maintain self-restraint", one of his officials said.
The prime minister also called on Iraqis not to resort to violence.
"We denounce sectarian practices that aim to destroy the unity of the nation," Mr Maliki said in a television broadcast on Thursday.
Despite the appeals and the curfew, an apparent retaliatory mortar attack targeted a Sunni mosque in Baghdad overnight. One person is reported to have been killed.Despite the appeals and the curfew, an apparent retaliatory mortar attack targeted a Sunni mosque in Baghdad overnight. One person is reported to have been killed.
Sadr City is largely controlled by the Mehdi Army, the best-known of the Shia Iraqi militias, which has been accused of carrying out many sectarian attacks.Sadr City is largely controlled by the Mehdi Army, the best-known of the Shia Iraqi militias, which has been accused of carrying out many sectarian attacks.
Friday's bombing in Talafar is believed to have been carried out by at least one suicide bomber. Friday's bombing occurred in the northern city of Talafar, and is believed to have been carried out by at least one suicide bomber.
Reuters news agency quoted a police officer as saying the 22 who died were shopping at a market.Reuters news agency quoted a police officer as saying the 22 who died were shopping at a market.
Talafar, close to the Syrian border, was once a bastion for Sunni guerrillas, but has been held up by US forces in Iraq as a example of successful counter-insurgency operations.Talafar, close to the Syrian border, was once a bastion for Sunni guerrillas, but has been held up by US forces in Iraq as a example of successful counter-insurgency operations.