(Female) Suicide bomber kills 18 in Iraq pilgrims attack

[sabra]

Source: reuters

BAGHDAD, Aug 14 (Reuters) - A female suicide bomber killed at least 18 people and wounded 75 on Thursday when she detonated an explosive vest amid a crowd of Shi'ite pilgrims heading toward a shrine south of Baghdad, police said.

The bomber struck near the town of Iskandariya, 40 km (25 miles) south of the capital, an area where Shi'ite pilgrims have to walk through Sunni Arab towns and villages to reach the holy Shi'ite city of Kerbala.

Thousands of pilgrims have begun travelling on foot toward Kerbela to commemorate the birth of the 12th Imam al-Mehdi, a Messiah-like figure revered by Shi'ite Muslims, who believe he disappeared centuries ago but never died.

In another incident targeting pilgrims on Thursday, a roadside bomb killed one pilgrim and wounded seven as they walked through central Baghdad's Karrada neighbourhood.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LE392374.htm

[xchrom]

1. recommend -- this bombing IS part of the surge - and the surge is a failure. nt

[YOY]

2. "My friends, the surge (tm) is working."

If he calls me his "friend" one more time I'm going to hurl.

[bluestateguy]

3. The "surge working"

"Yeah, well, uh, there aren't AS MANY bombings and killings going on!"