Suicide bomber kills more than 50 in Iraq

An Iraqi soldier mans a checkpoint in Baghdad on January 14, 2012.

• NEW: The death toll has climbed to at least 53 killed, ministry says
• The suicide bomber was disguised as a policeman, officials say
• The bomber struck at a police checkpoint outside the city of Basra, officials say

Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- A suicide bomber disguised as a policeman targeted Shiite pilgrims Saturday outside the southern Iraqi city of Basra, killing at least 53 people and wounding 137, the Interior Ministry said.

The bomber struck a police checkpoint near a Shiite mosque where many of the pilgrims were headed to mark a revered holy day, the end of a 40-day mourning period known as Arbaeen, Interior Ministry officials said.

Scores of pilgrims -- who make the journey on foot -- have been killed and wounded in recent days in attacks blamed on Sunni extremists, who have routinely targeted the pilgrims.

Security tight for Shiite pilgrimage

Arbaeen, considered one of the holiest days in the Shiite sect, commemorates the seventh century death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed.

Hussein was killed during a battle near Karbala for control of the Muslim nation following Mohammed's death in 632. Hussein's death led to a split between Sunni and Shiite Muslims.

During Saddam Hussein's rule, the Sunni leader forbade pilgrims from making the journey on foot. He also banned some ritualistic practices.

Following the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam, the pilgrimages grew in numbers.

This year's pilgrimage comes just weeks after the U.S. military pulled its troops from the country ahead of an end-of-the-year deadline to withdraw.

Source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_world/~3/lqwz15Sg_NQ/index.html

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