Iraq mosque blast

Baghdad, June 03: At least 19 people, including some high-ranking local officials, were killed and 54 injured in a blast at a mosque in Iraq’s Tikrit city, Xinhua quoted local police sources as saying.

The bomb went off as worshippers came out of the mosque after prayers. Located in the well-known Presidential Palace site, the mosque was frequented by local officials.

There were conflicting accounts of whether the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber or a bomb.

The latest blast took place a day after the coordinated bombings in Ramadi, west of Baghdad, killed 9 and wounded 20.

–Agencies