Car bomb kills 30 near holy shrine in Karbala

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A parked car exploded Saturday near one of Shiite Islam's holiest shrines in the city of Karbala, killing about 30 people and wounding dozens, officials said. The explosion took place about 7 p.m. in a crowded commercial area near the Imam Hussein shrine as people were heading for prayers in Karbala, 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Baghdad, the officials said. At least 30 people were killed and 50 wounded, said Salim Kazim, the head of the Karbala health department. A car bomb exploded in the same area on April 14, killing 47 and wounding 224.