At least 31 killed in bomb at Baghdad market

A bomb targeting poor Iraqi Shiites lining up for jobs in the Baghdad slum of Sadr City killed at least 31 people and injured more than 50 others, police said.

The bomb tore through a collection of food stalls and kiosks, where men gather daily hoping to be hired as labourers, at about 6.15am (3.15am Irish time) today.

Police Major Hashim al-Kasiri put the casualty figure at 31 killed and 51 injured.

There were conflicting reports as to whether the blast was caused by a suicide bomber or a device concealed amid debris by the roadside.

The overwhelmingly Shiite area is a stronghold of the Mahdi Army militia blamed for much of the sectarian violence rocking the city.