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Suicide bomber strikes Iraq funeral
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Arab World
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By Agencies
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 At least 60 people have been killed in northern Iraq after a suicide bomber struck a funeral for two members of the Awakening Council, a US-backed Sunni movement, police sources have said.
The bomber detonated his suicide vest on Thursday in the village of Bu Muhammad near Tuz Khurmato, 120km south of the oil city of Kirkuk.
Northern Iraq has seen an increase in attacks this week, including a bombing in the town of Baquba that killed 40 people.
Police Captain Abdallah Jassim told AFP news agency that the attack occured at around 11am (08:00 GMT).
He said the crowd had gathered to present their condolences at a meeting to mourn the recent deaths of two members of a local group fighting al-Qaeda in Iraq. Sheik Omar al-Azawi, a member of the local Awakening Council, had just arrived at the scene when the explosion occurred.
"I first heard a thunderous explosion and when I turned my eyes to the tent I saw fire and smoke coming out," he said. "Panicked people were jumping and running in all sides and then we started to evacuate those who were killed and wounded in our private cars until police and medical teams arrived."
'Al-Qaeda' blamed
US and Iraqi authorities say al-Qaeda fighters have moved into the north Diyala province after being pushed out of other areas.
Al-Qaeda in Iraq is frequently blamed for attacking funerals, which are often held with little security.
The area around Kirkuk has often seen violence between the Arab and Kurdish communities, who both lay claim to the city and its large oil reserves.
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