10 March 2005 -- A suicide bomber blew himself up today during a funeral being held in the courtyard of a Shi'ite mosque in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Witnesses and hospital officials say the blast killed at least 47 people and injured 90 others.
The northern part of Mosul has been a hotbed of insurgent activity and the scene of many bombings, drive-by shootings, and assassinations. The targets often include the country's security services, Shi'ite majority, and people thought to be working with U.S.-led forces.
In other news, Iraqi National Security Adviser Muwaffaq al-Rubay'i today told RFE/RL that Iraqi forces are "close" to finding Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, the country's most-wanted insurgent.
"I cannot go into details on this matter for security reasons but I can conclude from this that we are close to al-Zarqawi and close to the inner circle of al-Zarqawi," al-Rubay'i said. "It is probable that the next few weeks will see some good news for our people."
Earlier, insurgents killed the head of a police station in Baghdad and several other policemen traveling with him.
(RFE/RL's Iraqi Service/agencies)
In other news, Iraqi National Security Adviser Muwaffaq al-Rubay'i today told RFE/RL that Iraqi forces are "close" to finding Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, the country's most-wanted insurgent.
"I cannot go into details on this matter for security reasons but I can conclude from this that we are close to al-Zarqawi and close to the inner circle of al-Zarqawi," al-Rubay'i said. "It is probable that the next few weeks will see some good news for our people."
Earlier, insurgents killed the head of a police station in Baghdad and several other policemen traveling with him.
(RFE/RL's Iraqi Service/agencies)