Nineteen killed in bomb attack in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, May 20 (Reuters) Nineteen people were killed and 36 wounded when a bomb exploded close to a crowd of Shi'ite labourers gathered to look for work in east Baghdad today, police said, raising the casualty toll sharply.

The bomb, apparently planted in the street at a spot where workers gather in the mornings, went off hours before parliament is due to vote into office a new, national unity government.

REUTERS MIR VC1015