35 die in Baghdad car bomb explosion

At least 35 persons were killed and 61 wounded in a car bomb explosion in eastern Baghdad on Monday, the media reported.

The explosion took place when a booby trapped car detonated in a Shia neighbourhood of Sadr city, Xinhua news agency quoted an Interior Ministry source as saying.

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

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. But the Islamic State group in most cases is believed responsible for bombings targeting Iraqi security forces as well as crowded areas.

The attack took place shortly after the arrival of French President Francois Hollande, who was in Baghdad for meetings with Iraqi officials and would be visiting French troops in the north of the country.

A major offensive was initiated by Iraqi security forces, backed by an international coalition, to drive out the 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/mr