By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Iraqi police said at least 15 people have been killed and 40 wounded when a female suicide bomber blew herself up among Shiite pilgrims south of Baghdad.
Police spokesman Capt. Muthanna Khalid says the woman detonated her explosives belt in Iskandariyah. The city is a former Sunni insurgent stronghold that has seen a sharp decline in violence after local tribal leaders joined forces with the Americans against al-Qaida in Iraq.
Shiite pilgrims have faced a series of attacks Thursday as they headed on foot to the holy city of Karbala for a major religious festival.