Car Bomb Kills 25 At Shi'ite Pilgrimage In Baghdad

Shi'ite pilgrims gather at the shrine of Imam Musa al-Kadhim in northern Baghdad's Kadhimiyah neighborhood, as they commemorate the death anniversary of the revered Shiite imam on June 14.

A car bomb has killed at least 25 people in Baghdad as thousands of Shi'ite pilgrims gathered for the peak of commemorations of the death of a Shi'ite imam.

The car bomb exploded just after noon near a throng of pilgrims streaming through the neighborhood of Shula in northern Baghdad.

Despite the latest violence, the June 16 ceremonies continued to commemorate Musa al-Kadhim, a revered imam who was the Prophet Muhammad's great-grandson. He died in 799 and is said to have been poisoned.

The bombing follows a wave of attacks on June 13 that killed 72 Shi'ite pilgrims across Iraq.

Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Iraq has claimed responsibility for the wave of car bombings, one of the deadliest days in the country since U.S. troops withdrew six months ago.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP and Reuters