UPDATE / 17 casualties in Karbala blast

KARBALA / IraqiNews.com: The toll from the explosion in north Karbala has reached 17 casualties, in addition to two dead, provincial sources said today. The source told IraqiNews.com that the explosion took place in a garage near a checkpoint in Oun area, 15 km north of the city. The wounded were sent to hospitals in Baghdad, Najaf and Hilla provinces. Earleir, Col. Adnan al-Khafaji told IraqiNews.com that a bomb exploded this afternoon in a parked car inside a garage near one of the checkpoints north of the city. Initial reports indicated that the blast resulted in two dead and three injured. Starting from today, Karbala city will receive thousands of visitor to commemorate the birth of Imam Mehdi who was born on 15 Sha’ban in Samarra city. The peak of the visit shall be tomorrow (Saturday). RM (TS)/SR 771