BAGHDAD - A car bomber killed seven Iraqis and wounded nine others here on Monday near a crowd of Shi'ite pilgrims traveling south to Kerbala to attend an annual religious ritual.
A police source said the car was driven by a suicidal bomber, who set off the explosives planted in the vehicle close to thousands of Shi'ite pilgrims marching on the road of Hilla to Kerbala to attend the annual mourning ceremony.
The source, who requested anonymity, said the bomb blast killed seven Iraqis and wounded nine others who were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Separately, a motorcycle bomber killed two Iraqi policemen, positioned just north of Kerbala to guard the incoming pilgrims.
The Iraqi police have taken security measures to forestall insurgents' attacks, and banned entry of cars into the sacred sites in the holy city.
KUNA