At Least 26 Die in Iraqi Car Bomb

30/10/2005| IslamWeb

A bomb hidden in a truck loaded with dates exploded at sunset in the centre of a farming village northeast of Baghdad, killing 26 people and injuring at least 34.

The bomb in the village of Huwaidir, located 70km northeast of Baghdad, exploded as villagers were heading for the mosque for prayers or breaking their Ramadan fast outdoors in the cool evening breeze.

"It felt as if the earth was shaking underneath our feet," said Husain Muwafaq, whose brother Qahtan was killed in the blast. "The street was strewn with dates. Many people were killed and injured."

Police Lieutenant Ahmad Abd al-Wahab, who gave the casualty figure, said the number of deaths may increase because several of the survivors suffered critical injuries.

The village is located in a Sunni-Shia mixed area plagued by attacks, roadside bombs and armed attacks on police checkpoints.

PHOTO CAPTION

US soldiers from Task Force Liberty and the 278th Regimental Combat Team fold their country's flag at the end of their departure ceremony at Kirkush military base, 100 kms east of Baghdad. (AFP)