14 killed in Baghdad car-bomb explosion

At least 14 persons were killed and 35 injured in a car-bomb explosion in Baghdad on Monday, a source said.

A booby-trapped car detonated in the Shia neighbourhood of Sadr city, Xinhua news agency quoted the source as saying.

The blast destroyed several shops nearby and many stalls at an outdoor market and set fire to many vehicles, the source said.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Islamic State militant group in most cases is found responsible for bombings targeting Iraqi security forces as well as crowded areas.

The attack came amid a major offensive by Iraqi security forces, backed by an international coalition, to drive out IS militants from its last major stronghold in and around Mosul.

Many blame the current chronic instability, cycle of violence and the emergence of extremist groups such as the IS on the US, which invaded and occupied Iraq in March 2003.

--IANS

py/vt