At least 36 people, including a suicide bomber, were killed in an attack targeting a security checkpoint in southern Iraq, police said.
The bomber blew himself up inside a car packed with explosives as he stopped at the checkpoint in Hilla.
Around 174 people have been wounded.
“The Hilla hospital has been crowded with victims of the attack,” a medical official said.
“So several of the injured have been transferred to another hospital. Efforts are being made to save their lives,” the official told Alsumaria TV .
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has accused Saudi Arabia and Qatar of supporting “terrorists” in his country.
“I accuse them of inciting and encouraging the terrorist movements. I accuse them of supporting them politically and in the media, of supporting them with money and by buying weapons for them,” al-Maliki told France 24 in an interview on Sunday.
“I accuse them of leading an open war against the Iraqi government,” he said.
“We don’t wish to widen the arena of confrontation. But, we’re telling those countries, be aware, be careful, because the support of terrorism will turn against you.”
