Bombs in Iraq kill 7 Shiite pilgrims

(CNN) -- A car bomb and roadside bombs targeting Shiite pilgrims killed seven and wounded dozens on Monday, officials with Iraq's Interior Ministry told CNN.

Hundreds of thousands of Shiite pilgrims are in Baghdad, the southern Iraqi city of Karbala and elsewhere for Ashura, which falls on Tuesday this year.

Ashura commemorates the martyrdom of Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Hussein was killed in battle in Karbala in 680, one of the events that helped create the schism between Sunnis and Shiites, the two main Muslim religious movements.

North of Baghdad, at least four people were killed and 30 were wounded when a car bomb exploded among Shiite pilgrims in the al-Neel district, about 10 kilometers north of Hilla, Monday evening, officials with Iraq's Interior Ministry told CNN. The pilgrims were in their way to Karbala.

In the al-Akrameen neighborhood in central Hilla, three Shiite pilgrims were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded Monday evening.

In Baghdad, two people were killed and seven were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near Shiite pilgrims in the Zafaraniya district in southeastern Baghdad on Monday evening.

In the Ur neighborhood in northeastern Baghdad, nine Shiite pilgrims were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near them Monday afternoon.

In Mahmoudiya about 40 kilometers south of Baghdad, one Shiite pilgrim was killed and three were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded Monday morning.