At least 41 people were killed and over 100 injured when a woman suicide-bomber detonated her explosives during a religious rally in north-east Baghdad Monday.
The woman attacker masquerading as a pilgrim joined a Shia procession heading for the holy city of Karbala as part of 'Arbaen' marking the end of mourning of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammed.
The woman bomber standing near a refreshment stall set off her explosives vest as the procession passed her by.
Police said all the victims were Shia pilgrims. The blast did not deter Shias from observing 'Arbaen' that would last until Friday.
Heavy security was in place to protect the large number of pilgrims visiting the shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala.
The incident is being seen as an instance of growing tension between majority Shias and minority Sunnis in the run-up to next month's general elections.
Similar incidents had been reported during Shia festivals in the past also with Sunni ultras being blamed for the attacks. Last year, 32 pilgrims were killed when a female suicide- bomber triggered a blast at a checkpoint located in front of the Imam Moussa al-Kadhim shrine in a Shia-dominated locality close to Baghdad.
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