<p>A suicide bomber today blew himself up in a market in the town of Musayyib, south of Baghdad, killing at least 20 people, medical and security sources said.<br /><br />At least 34 other people were wounded in the attack in the centre of Musayyib, a town that lies about 60 kilometres south of the capital, a police officer and a medic at the local hospital said.<br />"A suicide bomber blew himself up in Musayyib market, causing 20 civilian martyrs," an interior ministry spokesman said.<br />A source at Musayyib hospital said at least four of the wounded were in very serious condition following the blast, which rocked the market at around 11:30 AM (0830 GMT).<br /><br />The attack in Musayyib came hours after another, apparently failed attack in the Shiite shrine city of Karbala, a few kilometres to the southwest.<br /><br />Four civilians were wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance of the city's main bus station early today, police sources said.<br /><br />Both attacks were claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group through its propaganda agency Amaq, which in both cases spoke of a "martyrdom-seeking operation" using an explosive vest.<br /><br />IS has carried out dozens of deadly suicide bombings targeting civilians but Iraq has been on heightened alert since the start of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.<br /><br />More than 40 people were killed and dozens wounded in a spate of attacks on May 30, a few days after the beginning of Ramadan, including a devastating blast at an ice cream shop in central Baghdad's Karrada neighbourhood.<br /><br />It was during Ramadan last year that IS carried out its deadliest ever attack in the Iraqi capital with a truck bomb that set two shopping arcades ablaze, also in Karrada, resulting in more than 320 deaths.<br />The bombings in Baghdad come as Iraqi forces fight to retake the last IS-held areas of Mosul, a city that was the jihadist group's emblematic stronghold.<br />Iraqi forces are almost eight months into a massive operation to recapture the second city and have already taken back its whole eastern side and much of the west.<br /><br /></p>
<p>A suicide bomber today blew himself up in a market in the town of Musayyib, south of Baghdad, killing at least 20 people, medical and security sources said.<br /><br />At least 34 other people were wounded in the attack in the centre of Musayyib, a town that lies about 60 kilometres south of the capital, a police officer and a medic at the local hospital said.<br />"A suicide bomber blew himself up in Musayyib market, causing 20 civilian martyrs," an interior ministry spokesman said.<br />A source at Musayyib hospital said at least four of the wounded were in very serious condition following the blast, which rocked the market at around 11:30 AM (0830 GMT).<br /><br />The attack in Musayyib came hours after another, apparently failed attack in the Shiite shrine city of Karbala, a few kilometres to the southwest.<br /><br />Four civilians were wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance of the city's main bus station early today, police sources said.<br /><br />Both attacks were claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group through its propaganda agency Amaq, which in both cases spoke of a "martyrdom-seeking operation" using an explosive vest.<br /><br />IS has carried out dozens of deadly suicide bombings targeting civilians but Iraq has been on heightened alert since the start of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.<br /><br />More than 40 people were killed and dozens wounded in a spate of attacks on May 30, a few days after the beginning of Ramadan, including a devastating blast at an ice cream shop in central Baghdad's Karrada neighbourhood.<br /><br />It was during Ramadan last year that IS carried out its deadliest ever attack in the Iraqi capital with a truck bomb that set two shopping arcades ablaze, also in Karrada, resulting in more than 320 deaths.<br />The bombings in Baghdad come as Iraqi forces fight to retake the last IS-held areas of Mosul, a city that was the jihadist group's emblematic stronghold.<br />Iraqi forces are almost eight months into a massive operation to recapture the second city and have already taken back its whole eastern side and much of the west.<br /><br /></p>