7 killed in car bombing in Iraqi city of Najaf

[November 08, 2010]  IRBIL, Iraq (AP) -- Iraqi police and hospital officials say a car bomb went off not far from one of Shiite Islam's holiest sites in the city of Najaf, killing seven people.

Officials say the blast went off about 500 yards from the shrine of Imam Ali, one of the most revered Shiite saints. Two Iranian pilgrims were among those killed.

The blast came hours after a car bombing in Karbala, another holy Shiite city south of Baghdad, also killed seven people, including six Iranian pilgrims.

The blasts came as Iraqi politicians met in the northern city of Irbil in an attempt to form a new government after inconclusive elections in March.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

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AP's earlier story is below.

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IRBIL, Iraq (AP) -- Iraqi police and hospital officials say a car bomb went off not far from one of Shiite Islam's holiest sites in the city of Najaf south of Baghdad.

Officials say the blast went off about 500 yards from the the shrine of Imam Ali, one of the most revered Shiite saints and a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad.

The blast wounded 16 and came hours after a car bombing in Karbala, another holy Shiite city south of Baghdad, killed seven people, including six Iranian pilgrims.

The blasts came as Iraqi politicians met in the northern city of Irbil in an attempt to form a new government eight months after an inconclusive general election.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

[Associated Press; By YAHYA BARZANJI]

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