Deadly bombing in Najaf on eve of poll

A powerful car bomb has killed three people and injured at least 54 in the Iraqi city of Najaf. The blast in the Shia-Muslim holy city comes the day before the second general election since the 2003 ousting of Saddam Hussein.

Firefighters hose down a bus whichwas targeted in the Najaf attack Reuters/Ali Abu Shish

Who is standing?

State of Law – Shia-based alliance led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki;

Iraqiya – secular list led by Shia former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and serving Vice-President Tareq al-Hashimi;

Iraqi National Alliance – largely Shia, bringing together the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's supporters and estranged Washington ally, Ahmed Chalabi;

Iraq Unity – led by Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani, who hopes to be a compromise candidate for Prime Minister;

Kurdish Democratic Party – based in Kurdish autonomous region, led by its President Massoud Barsani, possible coalition partner;

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan – based in Kurdish autonomous region, led by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, possible coalition partner.

Two Iranian pilgrims and an Iraqi were killed in the attack, while 33 of the wounded were Iranians.

The bombing took place about 500 metres from the shrine of the prophet Mohammed’s son-in-law, Imam Ali, officials say. Thousands of Shia from both Iraq and Iran come to the shrine every month.

The latest attack comes despite massive security ahead of Sunday’s vote.

In Baghdad on Friday, “we saw a continuous ballet of helicopters and came across police patrols and military roadblocks everywhere”, reports Toufik Benaicchouche of RFI’s French service.

France 24

An Al-Qaeda front, the Islamic State in Iraq, declared Friday that it has imposed a “curfew”, saying that anyone who defies it will “expose himself to the anger of Allah and … all kinds of weapons of the mujahedeen”. Al-Qaeda has been blamed for bombings in Baghdad and Baquba this week.

Both Sunni and Shia religious leaders called on Muslims to vote. The 2005 election  saw a boycott by most Sunnis.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki declared this week that he is “certain” of victory. But he faces stiff competition and, whoever wins, a coalition government is almost inevitable.