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Iraqi bus passengers 'kidnapped' Iraq bomber kills wedding guests
(about 1 hour later)
At least 30 bus passengers have been kidnapped by an armed gang on a road north of Baghdad, Iraqi police say. A bomb has ripped through a wedding convoy in Baghdad, killing at least 15 people, four of them children, the interior ministry says.
The bomb struck a procession of vehicles at dusk in Ur, on the outskirts of Baghdad's Sadr City.
It was not immediately clear if the blast was carried out by a suicide bomber or a remotely detonated device.
The bomb came as Iraq's prime minister announced a lifting of a blockade on the Shia stronghold of Sadr City.
At total of at least 19 people were injured in the attack.
Earlier, at least 30 bus passengers were kidnapped by an armed gang on a road north of Baghdad, according to Iraqi police.
An official said the bus, carrying mainly Shia passengers to the town of Balad, was stopped at a fake checkpoint 40km (24 miles) from the capital.An official said the bus, carrying mainly Shia passengers to the town of Balad, was stopped at a fake checkpoint 40km (24 miles) from the capital.
It is the latest in a spate of mass kidnappings, part of the growing sectarian violence in Iraq.It is the latest in a spate of mass kidnappings, part of the growing sectarian violence in Iraq.
In other violence, a car bomb explosion killed 10 people at a Shia wedding party in Baghdad.
Four children were among the victims and another seven people were injured.
According to police, the bus attack occurred when gunmen stopped the vehicle on its way to the northern town of Balad.According to police, the bus attack occurred when gunmen stopped the vehicle on its way to the northern town of Balad.
Balad, about 80km north of Baghdad, has been the scene of bitter sectarian tensions recently.Balad, about 80km north of Baghdad, has been the scene of bitter sectarian tensions recently.
Two weeks ago, at least 30 Sunnis were killed by a Shia militia there in an apparent revenge attack for the murder of 17 Shias.Two weeks ago, at least 30 Sunnis were killed by a Shia militia there in an apparent revenge attack for the murder of 17 Shias.
Checkpoint orderCheckpoint order
The two attacks came as Iraq's prime minister ordered all checkpoints around the Shia suburb of Sadr City in Baghdad to be lifted. The two attacks came as Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki ordered all checkpoints around the Shia suburb of Sadr City to be lifted.
US troops have been checking vehicles in Baghdad's Sadr City href="/1/hi/scotland/6096098.stm" class="">UK call for Iraq inquiry
US forces put a security cordon around the area recently as they carried out searches for an abducted soldier.US forces put a security cordon around the area recently as they carried out searches for an abducted soldier.
The week-long restrictions, checks and searches caused increasing resentment in the densely-populated neighbourhood.The week-long restrictions, checks and searches caused increasing resentment in the densely-populated neighbourhood.
The decision to lift them came shortly after radical Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr, called a general strike in protest.The decision to lift them came shortly after radical Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr, called a general strike in protest.
The district is largely controlled by the Mehdi Army, a militia led by Mr Sadr.The district is largely controlled by the Mehdi Army, a militia led by Mr Sadr.
Mr Maliki said he was acting in his "capacity as commander in chief of the armed forces".Mr Maliki said he was acting in his "capacity as commander in chief of the armed forces".
A US military spokesman said that he was not aware of the order but told the AFP news agency that any concerns of the prime minister would be addressed "at the highest command levels".
But the BBC's correspondent in Baghdad, Hugh Sykes, says that the US has not said whether or not it will obey the Iraqi prime minister's order.
Growing tensionGrowing tension
The area has seen brief clashes between US forces and the Mehdi Army since the blockade was imposed.The area has seen brief clashes between US forces and the Mehdi Army since the blockade was imposed.
The BBC's regional analyst, Roger Hardy, says the announcement reveals the increasing tension between the Baghdad government and the US administration.The BBC's regional analyst, Roger Hardy, says the announcement reveals the increasing tension between the Baghdad government and the US administration.
He says they are at odds over security issues, what to do about militias, and how best to achieve national reconciliation - especially with the country's aggrieved Sunni Arab minority.He says they are at odds over security issues, what to do about militias, and how best to achieve national reconciliation - especially with the country's aggrieved Sunni Arab minority.
The abducted man, an Iraq-born US serviceman was seized last Monday after leaving his base inside Baghdad's fortified Green Zone to visit Iraqi relatives in the city.The abducted man, an Iraq-born US serviceman was seized last Monday after leaving his base inside Baghdad's fortified Green Zone to visit Iraqi relatives in the city.
Violence has continued in the capital:
  • The US announced the death of two soldiers killed near Baghdad on Monday, bringing the monthly total to more than 100
  • AFP reported that Iraqi forces had captured the personal cameraman of Abu Musa al-Zarqawi's, according to a defence ministry spokesman
  • A car bomb killed three people and wounded at least five others in Sadr City in the early hours of Tuesday.