Suicide bombers kill 48 in Iraq
Two suicide bombers targeting members of a government-backed, anti-al Qaida militia struck within hours of each other in Iraq today, killing at least 48 people and wounding dozens more.
The bombings were the deadliest in a series of attacks across Iraq today that were aimed at the Sons of Iraq, a Sunni group also known as Sahwa which works with government forces to fight al Qaida in Iraq.
The first attack this morning killed at least 45 people and wounded more than 40. It occurred at a checkpoint near a military base where Sahwa members were queuing to receive paycheques.
In the second attack, a suspected militant stormed a local Sahwa headquarters in the Anbar province town of Qaim and opened fire, then blew himself up, killing three of the fighters and wounding six others, two police officials said.
