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IPFS News Link • Iraq

Dozens killed in Iraq mosque attack

• http://english.aljazeera.net

A suicide bomber in Iraq has blown himself up inside a Baghdad mosque, killing at least 29 people.

Officials said elderly men and children were among the casualties in the attack, which happened during prayers inside Umm al-Qura mosque in the western neighbourhood of al-Jamiaah.

Police said Khalid al-Fahdawi, a member of parliament, was also among the dead in the Sunday night attack that left 39 others wounded.

Ahmed Abdulghafur al-Samarrai, head of the mosque, said the suicide bomber walked up to a crowd, covered in bandages, detonating his explosives as the mosque chief was giving a speech.

Samarrai is known for his sermons against violent extremism and has received several threats against his life.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing, but Samarrai blamed the attack on al-Qaeda.

"I am sure al-Qaeda was behind this attack," he told Al-Sharqiyah television. "We will continue our fight against those criminals and unbelievers. They tried to drag the country into sectarian war before."

 Watch video here: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/08/201182820224889593.html