Iraq car bomb kills 18

Charred roads stained with blood - the aftermath of a deadly car bomb in Iraq that killed 18.
This one targeted mourners gathering at a mosque in the mainly Shi'ite city of Hilla.
Police say a further 63 people were wounded in the attack.
Violence in Iraq has eased since in recent years but both Sunni Islamists and Shi'ite militias still attack almost daily - fueling worries of resurgent sectarian violence.
One witness blamed US forces for the continuing instability.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AL'A, A WITNESS
"There was a blast in Hilla, near a funeral tent. It was close to a Shi'ite mosque and the shrine of prophet Ayyoub. I think that the US forces are responsible for this attack, one way or another. We condemn such criminal acts that are mainly supported by the U.S. and operated by Takfiri terrorist groups against innocent people."
US troops are scheduled to pull out of Iraq at the end of the year when a security pact expires.
Sunita Rappai, Reuters