Iraq oil blast kills at least 20

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At least 20 people have been killed by an explosion at an oil pipeline in southern Iraq, reports say.

The victims are believed to have 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 say is hampering the rescue effort.

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.