7 killed in Baghdad as Iraqis go to polls

Iraqi police and hospital officials say a mortar attack in Baghdad has killed four people in western Baghdad bringing the number of people who’ve died as Iraqis go to the polls Sunday to seven.

Officials said part of the building was destroyed, and ten others were wounded in the incident.

All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

An Associated Press photographer on the scene described rescuers pulling bodies from the building, but police prevented anyone from filming or taking pictures.

Insurgents have vowed to disrupt Iraq’s nationwide parliamentary election, and the opening of polls was met with a volley of mortar attacks and bombings across the city and explosions in other parts of the country.

Suicide bomber kills 41 in Baghdad

An Iraqi police official says a female suicide bomber walking among Shiite pilgrims in northern Baghdad has detonated an explosives belt, killing at least 41 people.

The official says the bomber struck on Monday as the pilgrims were walking near the Shiite neighbourhood of Shaab. He says that about 106 people have been wounded.

A hospital official also confirmed the casualties. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to the media.

Maj. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, Baghdad’s top military spokesman, said 19 people were killed and 80 wounded.

Conflicting casualty counts are common in the aftermath of an attack.

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are going to Karbala to mark a revered Shiite day.