Car bomb kills five near Iraq Shiite shrine

KARBALA, (AFP)

A powerful car bomb killed at least five people and wounded dozens more close to one of Iraq's holiest Shiite shrines in the central city of Karbala on Saturday, officials said. Salim Khadum, spokesman for Karbala's health department, said that five people had been killed and 44 wounded in the attack, according to an initial toll. A security official confirmed these figures.

The blast erupted at 11:00 am (0800 GMT) in Al-Abbas street, a few hundred metres (yards) from the Imam al-Abbas mausoleum, the final resting place of the son of the founder of Shiite Islam and one of the sect's early leaders.

Several civilian cars and a row of shops caught fire.

Despite thick smoke and flames, crowds of bystanders converged on the scene but were driven back by police, fearful of a follow-up blasts, a hallmark of attacks by Iraq's insurgent car bomb cells.

Karbala city authorities ordered roads into the city closed to traffic from other towns, allowing only residents to circulate in the popular Shiite pilgrimage destination until the sitaution stabilises.