A suicide bomber has killed at least 15 people and wounded 29 near a mosque in a mainly Sunni part of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, security sources say.
A suicide bomber has killed at least 15 people and wounded 29 near a mosque in a mainly Sunni part of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, security sources say.
The attacker rode up on a motorcycle before setting off a bomb in the Adhamiya district.
The attacker rode up on a motorcycle before setting off a bomb in the Adhamiya district.
The dead include Faruq Abu Omar, a local leader of a US-backed Sunni militia fighting al-Qaeda in Iraq.
The dead include Faruq Abu Omar, a local leader of a US-backed Sunni militia fighting al-Qaeda in Iraq.
The BBC's correspondent in Baghdad notes that suicide bombings are still a daily occurrence in Iraq.
The BBC's correspondent in Baghdad notes that suicide bombings are still a daily occurrence in Iraq.
The militia leader died on his way to hospital, his uncle told Reuters news agency.
Mr Abu Omar died on his way to hospital, his uncle told Reuters news agency.
'Revenge attack'
The bomber struck outside the Abu Hanifa mosque, one of the most important Sunni shrines in Iraq, just after the end of evening prayers.
"I carried my nephew in my arms to the hospital," Ahmed Abu Uday said by telephone, weeping as he spoke.
"I carried my nephew in my arms to the hospital," Ahmed Abu Uday said by telephone, weeping as he spoke.
"He was alive until we reached the hospital and his blood stained my clothes."
"He was alive until we reached the hospital and his blood stained my clothes."
The same man reported carrying 10 wounded people in his car to hospital.
The same man reported carrying 10 wounded people in his car to hospital.
The militia, known as the Sons of Iraq, is paid by US forces to protect neighbourhoods in areas where the local tribes have turned against al- Qaeda, Reuters reports.
The militiamen, popularly known as the Sons of Iraq, are paid by US forces as members of "Awakening Councils" to protect neighbourhoods in areas where the local tribes have turned against al- Qaeda.
"What happened is what we feared would happen, because this area was the stronghold of al-Qaeda in Adhamiya," Mr Abu Uday added.
"What happened is what we feared would happen, because this area was the stronghold of al-Qaeda in Adhamiya," Mr Abu Uday added.
"We killed them, we captured them. We destroyed them. And we expected they would seek revenge."
"We killed them, we captured them. We destroyed them. And we expected they would seek revenge."
Awakening Councils have been credited with helping to reduce violence in Iraq and are a continual target for Sunni insurgents, the BBC's Crispin Thorold reports.
Are you in the Adhamiya district of Baghdad? Did you see or were you affected by the attack? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC, you can do so using the form below.
Are you in the Adhamiya district of Baghdad? Did you see or were you affected by the attack? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC, you can do so using the form below.
