Iraqi suicide blasts kill 51

AT least 51 people died when a pair of car bombs blasted through security checkpoints ringing the Iraqi holy city of Karbala yesterday.

Most of the victims were Shi’ite pilgrims travelling to observe yearly religious rituals.

It was the latest in a wave of attacks in recent days, as insurgents test Iraqi security forces ahead of the planned US withdrawal at the end of the year.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the bombings bore the hallmark of al-Qaida and other Sunni-dominated extremist groups.