MSNBC BREAKING NEWS: 45 KILLED AT IRAQI FUNERAL

Dozens die in Iraqi funeral blast
At least 45 killed in third major bombing in country's north since Monday

BREAKING NEWS
MSNBC News Services

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24177055/

BAGHDAD - A suicide bomber struck a funeral in northern Iraq on Thursday, killing at least 45 mourners in the latest attack in a region where al-Qaida militants have regrouped, police said.

Officials said the bomber blew himself up at a funeral in the town of Albu Mohammed for two slain members of the local Awakening Council. Such U.S.-funded groups of Sunni tribesmen have turned against al-Qaida militants.

At least 50 other people were wounded in the attack, police said.

Northern Iraq has seen an upsurge in bombings this week, including one that killed 40 people in the town of Baqouba, the capital of Diyala province, on Tuesday.

U.S. and Iraqi authorities say al-Qaida militants have moved into the north after being pushed out of western Anbar province and Baghdad.

Al-Qaida militants are thought to be behind many attacks on funerals, which are often held with little security. The group also a history of striking with car bombs near government targets and civilian crowds.

The spate of bombings this week in the north could signal a new campaign by Sunni Arab militants. On Monday, a suicide attacker and two car bombs killed 18 people in northern areas where al-Qaida is active.

While the U.S. military says security has improved in the north, the strikes have been a reminder of the instability there at a time when attention has been focused mainly on fighting in Shiite areas that erupted late last month.

This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24177055/