Suicide bomber hits crowd of pensioners in Basra

BASRA, Iraq, June 20 (Reuters) A suicide bomber killed a woman and wounded five people when he attacked a crowd of elderly and disabled pensioners in the southern Iraqi city of Basra today, police said.

The crowd were gathering to receive their monthly pension.

Police sources had earlier said the blast targeted a senior citizens' home neighbouring the social care centre.

Police said only one of the two explosive belts the bomber was wearing detonated. Witnesses saw three bomb disposal experts at the scene. Police said they were trying to defuse the second bomb on the attacker's corpse.

The blast occurred in the northern Basra district of Jamiyat.

Suicide bombers have often struck at civilian targets in predominantly Shi'ite cities such as Basra as part of a campaign to draw Iraqis into a civil war.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki declared a state of emergency in Basra last month in a bid to crack down on militias, armed gangs and feuding Shi'ite factions threatening oil exports. But violence has not eased.

REUTERS CH RN1418