A string of coordinated suicide bomber attacks in Iraq killed at least 56 people during a Shi’ite religious festival on Wednesday, media reported.
Four bombs were detonated in the capital Baghdad, killing 30 people, local police said, Al Jazeera television said.
Most victims were pilgrims celebrating the festival of Imam Musa al-Kadhim, a major religious holiday in Shia Islam, the largest religious denomination in Iraq, the report said.
Separate attacks in the southern city of Hilla hit two restaurants popular with local police, killing 22. Four more perished in twin attacks in the city of Balad.
Total number of injured in the attacks across the country stood at 167, Al Jazeera said.
About two thirds of Iraqi population are Shi’ite Muslims and some 30 percent Sunni Muslims. Sunnis controlled most of the government in times of Saddam Hussein, but have been gradually losing their influence after he was deposed during the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
