Iraq market bombs kill 44

Bombs killed at least 44 people at markets in Iraq yesterday, and authorities said they bore the hallmarks of sectarian attacks on Shiite Muslims by al-Qaeda Sunni militants.

A bomb in a small truck exploded in a market in the city of Diwaniya, killing 40 people, and other blasts killed four more near Kerbala, police said.

The Diwaniya bombing was near a Shiite mosque where pilgrims gather on their way to Kerbala to celebrate the birthday of one of their most important imams, al-Mahdi, this week.

Police announced a partial curfew and blocked all entrances to Diwaniya.

Last month at least 237 people were killed and 603 wounded in attacks, mainly bombings, making June one of the bloodiest months in Iraq since US troops withdrew at the end of last year.