This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6320495.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Dozens die in Iraq suicide blasts Dozens die in Iraq suicide blasts
(about 1 hour later)
At least 45 people are reported to have been killed and 150 hurt in a double suicide bombing near a market in the Iraqi town of Hilla, local police say. At least 45 people have been killed and 150 injured in a double suicide bombing near a busy market in the Iraqi town of Hilla, local police say.
A police source told the BBC an officer tried to stop the first attacker detonating himself, but as he did so the other bomber exploded his device. A police source told the BBC an officer tried to stop and search the first attacker, but as he did so both men detonated their explosives.
It came as at least 10 other people were killed on another day of violence across the country. It came as at least 10 other people were killed in bomb and mortar attacks across the capital, Baghdad.
Six people died when a bomb hit a minibus in Baghdad. Six people died when a minibus was hit in the mainly Shia area of Karrada.
Three more people died in a car bomb in the Rusfasi district of the capital. Three more people died in a car bomb in another mainly Shia district of the capital, Rusfasi.
The blasts followed mortar attacks in the mainly Sunni area of Adhamiya. The blasts followed mortar attacks in the mainly Sunni area of Adhamiya, in which at least one person was killed.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi government denied using excessive force in a battle last weekend in which more than 260 people died near the Shia holy city of Najaf. Police said they also found 30 unidentified bodies across the capital.
'Big explosion' 'Acting suspiciously'
The town of Hilla is about 120km (75 miles) south of Baghdad. In February 2005 more than 120 people were killed in a bombing there. The bloodiest attack occurred close to a crowded market in the mainly Shia town of Hilla which is about 120km (75 miles) south of Baghdad.
The three attacks in Baghdad also left dozens injured. The two bombers were on foot and approached a barrier at the entrance to the market, police said.
In the Karrada district of the Iraqi capital, at least eight people were hurt in the minibus blast, police said. The barrier had been in place since a massive bombing in the town centre in 2005 that killed more than 120 people.
"We heard a big explosion and we rushed to the street to see the bus on fire and some wounded people jumping from the bus and falling on the ground," witness Jamal Ali told the Associated Press news agency. Police thought one of the men was acting suspiciously and moved to stop and search him.
There have been a number of attacks in the busy commercial district in recent weeks. The bomber detonated his explosives and the second man walking behind him then did the same, according to police.
Last week, 40 people died and 80 more were injured by a car bombing there. The BBC's Mike Wooldridge, in Baghdad, says markets have been a particular target of the bombers over the past couple of weeks - mostly in Baghdad but outside the capital too.
Growing controversyGrowing controversy
Speaking about the weekend's fighting in Najaf, a government spokesman said Iraqi and US forces fought members of a religious cult, calling themselves the Soldiers of Heaven, who had threatened to carry out acts of terrorism. Meanwhile, the Iraqi government has denied using excessive force in a battle last weekend in which more than 260 people died near the Shia holy city of Najaf.
A government spokesman said Iraqi and US forces fought members of a religious cult, calling themselves the Soldiers of Heaven, who had threatened to carry out acts of terrorism.
The group had resisted repeated calls to surrender, and as for the level of force used, Ali Dabbagh said the government was entitled to protect Iraqi citizens.The group had resisted repeated calls to surrender, and as for the level of force used, Ali Dabbagh said the government was entitled to protect Iraqi citizens.
However, the official version of events has not gone unchallenged and controversy is growing.However, the official version of events has not gone unchallenged and controversy is growing.
According to accounts on an Iraqi website and in the British media, the drama began with a clash between an Iraqi tribe on a pilgrimage to Najaf and an Iraqi army checkpoint.According to accounts on an Iraqi website and in the British media, the drama began with a clash between an Iraqi tribe on a pilgrimage to Najaf and an Iraqi army checkpoint.
The fighting escalated, army commanders called for reinforcements and US aircraft launched an aerial bombardment - with significant loss of life.The fighting escalated, army commanders called for reinforcements and US aircraft launched an aerial bombardment - with significant loss of life.
According to this account, the involvement of the Soldiers of Heaven appears to have been accidental.According to this account, the involvement of the Soldiers of Heaven appears to have been accidental.