43 killed in Iraq suicide bombing

A suicide bombing near Baghdad today has killed 43, officials said.

The bomber blew himself up this morning, targeting security forces in a mostly Sunni district south-west of Baghdad.

The dead were mostly members of an anti-al Qaida security force known as Sahwa or Sons of Iraq lining up to receive their paycheques in the town of Radwaniya.

The Sahwa fighters have played a key role in the reduction of violence in Iraq since they rose up against their al Qaida allies in 2006, joining US and government forces in the fight against the terror group.