Female suicide bomber kills 54 in Iraq

Fifty-fourpeople died on Monday after afemale suicide bomber walking among Shia pilgrims in northern Baghdaddetonated an explosive belt, an Iraqi police official reported.

The official said the bomber struck in the Shia Muslimdistrict of Shaab, andabout117 people were wounded, with18 women and 12 children are among the dead.

A hospital official confirmed the casualties. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Maj.-Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, Baghdad's top military spokesman, said 19 people were killed and 80 wounded.

Conflicting casualty counts are common in the aftermath of an attack.

Insurgents have routinely targeted pilgrims in Iraq. This week, hundreds of thousands of Shias areheadingto Karbala, southwest of Baghdad, to mark the end of 40 days of mourning following the anniversary of the death of a revered Shia figure.