Iraq: Car bomb kills four

A car bomb exploded today outside a public market in the predominantly Shiite neighbourhood of New Baghdad, police said.

Police Col. Hassan Chaloub said four civilians were killed and 19 injured in the blast. The explosion caused a large fire in the market and firefighters were battling the blaze.

The attack appeared to be yet another incidence of sectarian violence against Iraq’s Shiite majority. Al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Sunni, has reportedly encouraged such attacks.