At least 22 people have been killed and 45 wounded by three bombs in targeting Shia pilgrims at a religious festival in central Iraq.
In the deadliest attack, a car packed with explosives blew up as a procession of pilgrims passed north of the city of Hilla on Monday, killing 16 people, mainly women and children.
Roadside bombs were also detonated near pilgrims in the centre of Hilla and in Latifiya, to the north, killing two.
Tuesday is the climax of Ashura, when Shia Muslims commemorate the martyrdom in the 7th Century of Imam Hussein.
