Blast kills Iraqi Shia pilgrims in Basra

Al Jazeera English 2012-08-28

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A suicide attack has killed at least 53 Shia Muslim pilgrims and left another 137 wounded in Iraq's southern city of Basra, local police say.

The attacker, wearing a suicide vest, was said to have been disguised as a policeman when he targeted pilgrims who were passing through a checkpoint on the outskirts of the city on Saturday.

The pilgrims were heading towards a Shia mosque in the busy al-Zubair district, west of Basra city. The mosque is home to a seventh century shrine.

The attacks on Shia Muslim worshippers have been blamed on al-Qaeda linked forces.

Al Jazeera's Jane Arraf reports from Baghdad.

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