Iraqi PM denounces suicide bombing as 'barbaric massacre'

A suicide bomber detonated a belt of explosives on his body near a highly revered Shiite shrine in southern Iraq today, killing at least 35 people and injuring 122, the Iraqi army said.

The bomber blew himself up while being patted down by policemen near the Imam Ali mosque in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, said Dr Munthir al-Ithari, the head of Najaf’s health directorate.