Deadly blasts hit Iraq Karbala city

At least 40 people have been killed and more than 140 others wounded in two explosions that rocked the Iraqi city of Karbala as hundreds of thousands of Shia pilgrims observed a major religious rite.

Friday's attacks came on the final and most important day of the Arbaeen, a Shia holy day marking the end of 40 days of mourning for Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who died in a 7th century battle at Karbala.

Al Jazeera has learned that three Iraqi army vehicles were destroyed in the attack.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Friday's blasts, but Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, blamed al-Qaeda and loyalists of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.