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Baghdad Shias mourn bomb victims Baghdad Shias mourn bomb victims
(20 minutes later)
Funeral processions have begun in Iraq for victims of Thursday's bomb attacks in Baghdad's Shia Sadr City district. Funeral processions have begun in Iraq for victims of Thursday's bomb attacks in Baghdad's Shia Sadr City district that left more than 200 people dead.
More than 200 people are now known to have died in the blasts. A fresh bomb attack has killed 22 in northern Iraq. In the latest violence, gunmen opened fire on four mosques in a Sunni area of Baghdad, the interior ministry said, while a bomb in north Iraq killed 22.
A group headed by radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr says it will quit Iraq's government if PM Nouri Maliki meets President Bush as planned next week. A group led by radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr has threatened to withdraw from Iraq's unity government.
The group, until now a key supporter of Iraq's Shia-led unity government, blames US-led forces for the violence. The group said it would quit if PM Nouri Maliki meets US President Bush.
"We will withdraw from the government and parliament if the prime minister meets Bush," the group said on Friday."We will withdraw from the government and parliament if the prime minister meets Bush," the group said on Friday.
The meeting is due to take place in Jordan.The meeting is due to take place in Jordan.
Mr Sadr's followers hold six cabinet posts and have 30 members in the 275-seat parliament.Mr Sadr's followers hold six cabinet posts and have 30 members in the 275-seat parliament.
Their withdrawal would be a major blow to an already unstable government, the BBC's Andy Gallacher in Baghdad says.Their withdrawal would be a major blow to an already unstable government, the BBC's Andy Gallacher in Baghdad says.
In pictures: Iraq funerals Who are the armed groups? Send us your comments The government has imposed an indefinite, 24-hour curfew in Baghdad.In pictures: Iraq funerals Who are the armed groups? Send us your comments 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. But despite the clampdown, fresh violence broke out on Friday.
Gunmen attacked four mosques in a Sunni area in the Hurriya neighbourhood, burning one down, officials said.
The only people and vehicles officially allowed on the streets were those taking part in the funeral processions.
Mourners cried as they walked beside vehicles taking coffins south to Najaf, the traditional burial place for Shias, which is 160km (100 miles) south of Baghdad.Mourners cried as they walked beside vehicles taking coffins south to Najaf, the traditional burial place for Shias, which is 160km (100 miles) south of Baghdad.
Thousands of men, women and children beat their chests, chanted and cried as they accompanied the processions.Thousands of men, women and children beat their chests, chanted and cried as they accompanied the processions.
Bodies have begun arriving in Najaf and will be buried in the city's ancient cemetery.Bodies have begun arriving in Najaf and will be buried in the city's ancient cemetery.
Show of unityShow of unity
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.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", one of his officials said. Iraq's most prominent Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali 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.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."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.
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 occurred in the northern city of Talafar, and is believed to have been carried out by at least one suicide bomber. In the northern city of Talafar, a suspected suicide bomber attacked a market, killing 22 people.
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.