Suicide bomber kills 20 in market south of Baghdad

A suicide bomber today blew himself up in a market in the town of Musayyib, south of Baghdad, killing at least 20 people, medical and security sources said.

At least 34 other people were wounded in the attack in the centre of Musayyib, a town that lies about 60 kilometres south of the capital, a police officer and a medic at the local hospital said.

"A suicide bomber blew himself up in Musayyib market, causing 20 civilian martyrs," an interior ministry spokesman said.

A source at Musayyib hospital said at least four of the wounded were in very serious condition following the



blast, which rocked the market at around 11:30 AM (0830 GMT). 

The attack in Musayyib came hours after another, apparently failed attack in the Shiite shrine city of Karbala, a few kilometres to the southwest.

Four civilians were wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance of the city's main bus station early today, police sources said.

Both attacks were claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group through its propaganda agency Amaq, which in both cases spoke of a "martyrdom-seeking operation" using an explosive vest.