Poochandi

July 18, 2010

Iraqi officials say the death toll in the suicide bombing near Baghdad has risen to 43. The bomber blew himself up Sunday morning, targeting security personnel in a mostly Sunni district southwest of Baghdad.

The dead were mostly members of an anti-al-Qaida security force known as Sahwa or Sons of Iraq lining up to receive their paychecks in the town of Radwaniya.

All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The Sahwa fighters have played a key role in the reduction of violence in Iraq since they rose up against their al-Qaida allies in 2006, joining US and government forces in the fight against the terror group.