Suicide bomber outside mosque near Baghdad kills at least 12

Washington Post

BAGHDAD — A suicide bomber detonated explosives outside a Shiite mosque south of Baghdad on Friday, police said, killing at least 12 people and injuring 23 a day after Iraqi lawmakers approved a security pact to extend the U.S. military presence in Iraq.

The attack in the city of Musayyib, 40 miles south of the capital, occurred as people were gathered outside the mosque before the start of Friday prayers, witnesses and police said. The mosque is run by loyalists of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

“Suddenly, a huge explosion shook the entire building,” said Dawood Ahmad, 23, a worshiper. “Window glass flew in all directions, hitting me in the back. Heavy black smoke filled the main hall. Despite my injury, I rushed outside. I saw bodies lying on the ground, parts of human flesh scarred around. And many screaming for help.”

After the prayers, the several hundred worshipers had planned to march in protest against the security agreement, which still requires approval from Iraq’s Presidency Council. The Sadrists have long opposed the U.S. military presence in Iraq.

Al-Sadr issued a statement through his key aides Friday calling for three days of mourning and peaceful demonstrations against the pact.

No group asserted responsibility for the bombing, but suicide attacks are typically the trademark of Sunni extremists.

The U.S. military said in a statement that eight civilians were killed and 15 wounded.

Last month, the U.S. military handed over control of security in Babil province, which includes Musayyib, to Iraqi forces. The city is predominantly Shiite, but pockets of Sunnis live in villages and on farms in the surrounding area. Both Shiite and Sunni extremists have operated in the area. On July 16, 2005, a suicide bombing killed an estimated 90 people in the city.