At least 40 people have been killed south of Baghdad after a suicide bomber detonated a vest filled with explosives at a rest stop for Shia pilgrims on their way to a major religious ceremony.
Tens of thousands of Shia pilgrims are walking to Karbala to attend the Arbaeen ceremony on 28 February.
A group had paused for lunch just outside the town of Iskandiriyah, some 50km south of Baghdad, when the explosion occurred
Many people were wounded, at least 25 seriously.
In other violence in Baghdad today, two US soldiers were killed in separate incidents and three civilians died with dozens more wounded in four attacks on Shia pilgrims on the road to Karbala.
US and Iraqi forces are increasing their joint patrols and setting up more checkpoints on roads to Karbala.
