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| Many casualties in Baghdad blast | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A bomb explosion in the Sadr City area of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, has killed at least 29 people and injured more than 50, officials say. | A bomb explosion in the Sadr City area of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, has killed at least 29 people and injured more than 50, officials say. |
| Police sources said the blast occurred at 0750 (0450 GMT) in Mudhafa Square, on the perimeter of Sadr City. | Police sources said the blast occurred at 0750 (0450 GMT) in Mudhafa Square, on the perimeter of Sadr City. |
| The densely populated district is mainly home to Shias. Those killed were said to be labourers looking for work. | The densely populated district is mainly home to Shias. Those killed were said to be labourers looking for work. |
| Meanwhile, the death of a US marine on Sunday took US losses in October to 100 - the highest total since January 2005. | Meanwhile, the death of a US marine on Sunday took US losses in October to 100 - the highest total since January 2005. |
| The marine was killed in combat in Anbar province, west of Baghdad, the US military said. | The marine was killed in combat in Anbar province, west of Baghdad, the US military said. |
| More than 2,800 US troops have died since the invasion of Iraq in 2003. November 2004, when 137 US soldiers were killed, remains the deadliest month so far. | More than 2,800 US troops have died since the invasion of Iraq in 2003. November 2004, when 137 US soldiers were killed, remains the deadliest month so far. |
| US cordon | US cordon |
| Iraqi authorities said Monday's blast appeared to have been caused by a device concealed in a rubbish bin by the roadside. | |
| There was no immediate indication who was responsible but suspicion will fall on Sunni extremists, the BBC's Hugh Sykes in Baghdad says. | There was no immediate indication who was responsible but suspicion will fall on Sunni extremists, the BBC's Hugh Sykes in Baghdad says. |
| There have been several attacks like this before, killing dozens of casual labourers waiting for work, our correspondent says. | There have been several attacks like this before, killing dozens of casual labourers waiting for work, our correspondent says. |
| Sadr City, with its population of about three million, is a stronghold of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who heads the Mehdi Army militia. | Sadr City, with its population of about three million, is a stronghold of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who heads the Mehdi Army militia. |
| US forces hunting for a kidnapped American soldier entered the district on Friday, triggering brief clashes with militia members. The US military has kept the area under a cordon for several days. | US forces hunting for a kidnapped American soldier entered the district on Friday, triggering brief clashes with militia members. The US military has kept the area under a cordon for several days. |
| Iraqi authorities also confirmed the death of 17 Iraqis in an ambush near the southern city of Basra on Sunday. | Iraqi authorities also confirmed the death of 17 Iraqis in an ambush near the southern city of Basra on Sunday. |
| The 15 police instructors and two translators were held up by gunmen as they travelled on a bus. | The 15 police instructors and two translators were held up by gunmen as they travelled on a bus. |