Suicide bomber kills 41 Shi'ite pilgrims in Iraq

What are you supposed to do with a country full of People that just want to kill everyone ?

I thought a Pilgrimage was supposed to be a religious Experience , Not an occasion to blow the hell out of your neighbors .

Islam , WTF ?



BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A suicide bomber blew herself up on Monday among Shi'ite pilgrims on the outskirts of Iraq's capital, killing at least 41 people in the latest attack in a violent run-up to next month's election.

Iraq is trying to leave behind years of warfare set off by the 2003 U.S. invasion as it moves to cement security gains made in the last two years, prepare for a U.S. withdrawal and revamp an oil sector that gives Iraq nearly all of its revenues.

But Shi'ite gatherings remain a frequent target for Sunni Islamists such as al Qaeda, seeking to reignite the sectarian slaughter that peaked in 2006-07, while recent months have also seen major coordinated assaults by suicide bombers on Baghdad.

An interior ministry source and a police official said 41 people had been killed and 106 wounded in Monday's attack in a tent where pilgrims on an arduous religious trek are provided with food and drink.

"People were serving food to the pilgrims. A woman wrapped in an explosives belt went inside the tent and killed and wounded (many people) and children," said pilgrim Sahib, who was near the tent.

The office of Baghdad security spokesman Major General Qassim al-Moussawi said that the bombing occurred in a crowd and that 19 people were killed, with 80 wounded.

Several hours later a roadside bomb in southern Baghdad wounded 12 pilgrims, an interior ministry source said.

The attacks took place as the nation gears up for a March election when Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is expected to run on improved security and on oil deals that may vault Iraq into the world's top three crude exporters, from 11th currently.

Thousands of Shi'ites have flooded the streets for the start of a long walk to the southern city of Kerbala, 80 km (50 miles) southwest of Baghdad, for the religious rite of Arbain.