Female Bomber Kills Dozens in Iraq

March 17, 2008— -- A female suicide bomber attacked a group ofShiite worshippers near a mosque in Karbala on Monday, killing atleast 39 people and wounding 54, officials said.

The worshippers were gathered at a sacred historical site abouthalf a mile from the Imam Hussein shrine, one of the holiest sitesfor Shiites.

Karim Khazim, the city's chief health official, said the 39 deadincluded seven Iranians.

Police said the attacker was a woman but provided no otherimmediate details. Karbala is located about 50 miles south ofBaghdad.

Police closed the area around the twin golden dome mosques andblocked all roads leading to the sites. The site includes tombs ofImam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson who was killed in aseventh-century battle, and his half brother, also a Shiite saint.

Ali Hassan, 30, a clothing merchant who was wounded in theblast, said he was standing near his stall "when I heard a bigexplosion and I felt strong fire throwing me in the air."

"The only thing I know is there was a big explosion and I sawbodies flying in the air," said Hassan Khazim, 36, who was woundedin the face. "All the tight security measures designed to protectus were in vain."

Separately, a roadside bomb killed two U.S. soldiers Monday asthey were clearing a route north of Baghdad, the military said. The violence came as Vice President Dick Cheney and Arizona Sen.John McCain made overlapping visits to the capital, touting recentsecurity gains and promising to uphold a long-term militarycommitment to the country so long as al-Qaida in Iraq is notdefeated.

Explosions also struck earlier Monday not far from Baghdad'sheavily fortified Green Zone, shortly after Cheney arrived.Helicopter gunships circled central Baghdad, but no other detailswere immediately available on the cause of the explosions.

McCain, the presumptive Republican candidate for president whohas linked his political future to military success in Iraq, metMonday with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki shortly before the Iraqileader began separate talks with Cheney.