At least 15 dead in Iraqi suicide bombing

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A suicide bomber blew up his explosive vest in Iraq's Diyala province Monday, June 18th, killing at least 15 people and wounding 41 others, police officials in Baquba said.

The incident occurred during a funeral procession in the Shifta neighborhood in central Baquba, about 60 km (37 miles) north of Baghdad.

Dozens of mourners were gathering inside a tent to give condolences to relatives when the bomber entered the tent and blew himself up.

Over the past year, insurgency groups, such as al-Qaeda in Iraq, have used similar tactics against Shiites, but police could not say what group, if any, the suicide bomber may have been targeting.

Explosions on Wednesday primarily struck Shiite pilgrims, killing nearly 100 people, wounding hundreds more and raising the specter of renewed sectarian violence. Wednesday was the deadliest day in Iraq since U.S. troops withdrew from the country at the end of December.

Sunday was also a deadly day for Iraqis as 32 people were killed and 68 others were wounded in two car bomb explosions that targeted Shiite pilgrims.