(VOVworld) - At least 46 people were killed and 100 wounded in violent attacks in Iraq Thursday. The bloodiest incident occurred when a suicide bomber blew up himself among a procession of Shiite pilgrims on a highway in Doura district in Baghdad, killing 17 pilgrims and wounding 35 others.  

A woman

In another incident, a suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest among Shiite pilgrims near Yousifiyah town, some 20 km from Baghdad, killing eight pilgrims and wounding 32. Both attacks took place as pilgrims were heading to the holy Shiite city of Karbala, some 110 km from Baghdad, to observe the Arbaeen religious ritual ahead of its climax day next Tuesday in commemoration of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.