Iraq Watch: November 19, 2006

Suicide Bombing Rocks Hillah

A suicide bomber plowed an explosive-laden minivan into a crowd of day laborers early Sunday in the southern city of Hillah.

Early reports indicate that at least 22 people were killed and nearly 50 injured in the blast.

A predominately Shiite city, Hillah is situated about 60 miles south of Baghdad and serves as the capital of Babil province.

Long a holy city for Shiites, the Prophet Ezekiel is reputedly buried in one of Hillah's outlying villages.

Sunday is a workday for most Iraqis and AFP reports the bomber lured his victims to their deaths by posing as a contractor looking for help before detonating his payload.