Suicide Bomber Kills 17 People South of Baghdad

Baghdad: A suicide bomber killed 17 people and wounded 33 others in Madaen, 45 km (15 miles) south of Baghdad on Wednesday, Iraq police and medical officials said.

The dead were 14 Sunni pro-government fighters and three soldiers. The bomber blew himself up near a line of pro-government fighters waiting for their salaries, the official said, adding they expected the toll to rise.