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/5294328.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Dozens killed in Iraq oil blast | Dozens killed in Iraq oil blast |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| At least 34 people have been killed and others injured by an explosion at a disused oil pipeline in southern Iraq. | At least 34 people have been killed and others injured by an explosion at a disused oil pipeline in southern Iraq. |
| A police spokesman said people had been siphoning fuel from the pipeline in an industrial zone south of Diwaniya, 130km (80 miles) south of Baghdad. | A police spokesman said people had been siphoning fuel from the pipeline in an industrial zone south of Diwaniya, 130km (80 miles) south of Baghdad. |
| The explosion caused a massive fire, which police said was hampering the rescue effort. | The explosion caused a massive fire, which police said was hampering the rescue effort. |
| In a separate development, police have found 11 bodies near a school in a south-western district of Baghdad. | In a separate development, police have found 11 bodies near a school in a south-western district of Baghdad. |
| There are conflicting reports on the number of dead in the pipeline explosion. A unnamed police source quoted by Reuters news agency said 50 people had been killed. | There are conflicting reports on the number of dead in the pipeline explosion. A unnamed police source quoted by Reuters news agency said 50 people had been killed. |
| Police and other security forces have cordoned off the site. Officials say the cause of the blast is still being investigated. | Police and other security forces have cordoned off the site. Officials say the cause of the blast is still being investigated. |
| Witnesses told Reuters the explosion happened at about 11pm local time (1900 GMT) on Monday, when a large group of people were taking fuel from two pools. | Witnesses told Reuters the explosion happened at about 11pm local time (1900 GMT) on Monday, when a large group of people were taking fuel from two pools. |
| Government officials said the pipeline, which used to carry petrol to the capital, had been out of operation since 2003. | Government officials said the pipeline, which used to carry petrol to the capital, had been out of operation since 2003. |
| The BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Baghdad says the practice of siphoning fuel from pipelines is apparently not uncommon in Iraq. | The BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Baghdad says the practice of siphoning fuel from pipelines is apparently not uncommon in Iraq. |
| Diwaniya was the scene on Monday of fierce clashes between Iraqi troops and Shia militiamen. | Diwaniya was the scene on Monday of fierce clashes between Iraqi troops and Shia militiamen. |
| At least 19 soldiers were killed and more than 40 people were wounded in Diwaniya. Officials said some 40 gunmen from the Mehdi Army had also died. | At least 19 soldiers were killed and more than 40 people were wounded in Diwaniya. Officials said some 40 gunmen from the Mehdi Army had also died. |
| Security operation | Security operation |
| After the bodies were found near the Baghdad school, police said the victims had been tortured and shot in the head and chest. Their identities are not known. | After the bodies were found near the Baghdad school, police said the victims had been tortured and shot in the head and chest. Their identities are not known. |
| It comes at a time when US and Iraqi security forces are engaged in a new security operation aimed at reducing the level of violence in the city. | It comes at a time when US and Iraqi security forces are engaged in a new security operation aimed at reducing the level of violence in the city. |
| Also on Tuesday, insurgents killed two Shia militiamen in the city of Baquba north of Baghdad. | Also on Tuesday, insurgents killed two Shia militiamen in the city of Baquba north of Baghdad. |
| Iraqi police told the AFP news agency the militiamen were killed in an attack on the office of radical cleric Moqtada Sadr. | Iraqi police told the AFP news agency the militiamen were killed in an attack on the office of radical cleric Moqtada Sadr. |
| The US military in Iraq announced on Tuesday that two US soldiers died in Iraq - one in fighting in Anbar province and the second from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident. | The US military in Iraq announced on Tuesday that two US soldiers died in Iraq - one in fighting in Anbar province and the second from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident. |