20 killed in twin suicide bombing in Iraq

At least 20 people were killed and 35 injured in twin suicide bombings in the Iraqi capital, an interior ministry official said.

At least 20 people were killed and 35 injured in twin suicide bombings on Thursday in the Iraqi capital, an interior ministry official said.

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Eight people were killed and 10 injured when a suicide bomber blew up his explosives-laden vehicle in the midst of a crowd of Shia worshippers observing the end of the fasting month of Ramadan outside a mosque in southeastern Baghdad, the source said on condition of anonymity.

"The latest reports said that eight people, including four Iraqi soldiers, were killed and 10 others, including a soldier, wounded by the suicide car bombing in the al-Zaafaraniyah neighbourhood," the source said.

In another incident in the same area, 12 worshippers were killed and 25 others wounded Thursday when a suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest blew up himself outside al-Rasoul Shiite mosque in the Baghdad al-Jadida district, also called New Baghdad.

The powerful blasts in the two areas also caused damage to several nearby buildings and civilian cars, the source said, adding security forces immediately cordoned off the two areas to secure the scenes, while ambulances rushed to transport the victims to nearby hospitals.

Despite the claim of US military that the level of violence in the Iraqi capital is at a four-year low, militant attacks are frequent.