In pictures: Iraqi bloodshed

A massive suicide bomb attack close to a holy Shia shrine in the Iraqi city of Karbala early on Thursday caused scores of casualties and left dazed shoppers and stallholders on blood-washed streets.

Ambulances rushed to ferry the victims to hospital after carnage returned to the streets of a city which had been relatively calm over the past year.

At least 60 people died and 80 were injured - many of them Shia pilgrims - in what is seen as a sectarian attack designed to stir up tensions.

Young children were among those killed when the bomber's explosive belt laced with ball bearings and a grenade went off.

The city of Ramadi, west of Baghdad, was also the scene of a suicide bombing that killed at least 50 people.

Another 70 people were injured the attack, which targeted a police recruitment centre.

On the bloodiest day Iraq has had for months, Baghdad also saw suicide car bombings which caused injury but failed to kill any Iraqis.

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