26/04/2014 10:35
Explosions at Iraq election rally in Baghdad 'kill 31'
At least 31 people have been killed in Iraq as a series of blasts targeted a Shia election rally in Baghdad, the BBC reported.
Several people were seriously injured in the attack, which took place at a rally for the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq party.
The attack - claimed by al-Qaeda-linked militants - comes less than a week before Iraqis are due to head to the polls in parliamentary elections.
Iraq has been enduring the worst unrest since it pulled back from the brink of civil war in 2008.
The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant - an al-Qaeda offshoot also known as ISIL - said it had carried out Friday's attack.
Three bombs exploded as people left the rally, says the BBC's Nahed Abouzeid in Baghdad.
The first two blasts were caused by truck bombs and the third by a roadside bomb.
Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq is backed by Iran and is a public supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
This is likely to have antagonised Sunni groups in both countries.
Senior Ahl al-Haq official Wahab al-Taie said after the attack: "This is a desperate act that will not stop us from moving on and challenging. They wanted to send us a message and they did, but that will not deter us."