47 people have been killed and more than 60 hurt in a suicide car bomb attack in Iraq's holy city of Karbala

Suicide attack on Iraqi holy city

The bus station was very busy at the time of the attack

At least 47 people have been killed and more than 60 hurt in a suicide car bomb attack in Iraq's holy city of Karbala, police and medical sources say.

The attacker detonated explosives at a crowded bus station in the city close to a shrine holy to Shia Muslims, at around 0915 local time (0515 GMT).

Many of the casualties were said to be women or children.

Meanwhile in Baghdad at least eight people died in a truck bomb attack on a key bridge in the south of the city.

The driver of the pick-up detonated his bomb near a checkpoint on the Jadariya bridge, across the River Tigris. The bridge appears to have been left intact.

This follows a truck bomb which partially destroyed the Sarafiya bridge in northern Baghdad on Thursday, killing eight people.

The attacks come as a US-led security operation enters its third month.

The surge has brought down the rate of sectarian murders in the capital but has failed to stop bomb attacks.

Correspondents say the latest attacks suggest a change in tactics by insurgents, who are targeting infrastructure in an attempt to undermine confidence in the crackdown.

Ambulances

In Karbala, witnesses said police fired into the air to disperse crowds and clear the roads near the bus station, which had been particularly busy at the time of the attack.

Iraqi television aired footage in which rescue workers could be seen evacuating casualties. As many as 15 ambulances were said to be at the scene.

Hundreds of people were seen gathered around the ambulances and pounding their chests in grief.

Demonstrations followed outside the Karbala governor's offices.

Protesters threw stones at the offices, demanding the resignation of the governor and provincial council members and blaming them for security lapses.

Police imposed a curfew and sealed off entrances to the city.

The attack occurred about 200m from the Imam Hussein shrine, where the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad is believed to be buried.

The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says the location of the attack, plus the fact that it was clearly aimed at Shia Muslims, makes it highly provocative.

Karbala, which is 80km south of Baghdad, is the destination of a Shia pilgrimage every March.

More than 100 people were killed during last month's pilgrimage.

Kasparov arrested at Moscow rally

Mr Kasparov was arrested amid a "colossal" police presence

Police have arrested Russian opposition leader Garry Kasparov at a banned anti-Kremlin rally in Moscow.

He was detained during a huge security operation to prevent protesters from gathering at Pushkin Square. Police deny reports he has now been freed.

The former chess champion leads the United Civil Front group, part of the opposition coalition Other Russia.

It accuses President Vladimir Putin of trampling on democracy. The Kremlin says Other Russia destabilises Russia.

As he was being taken away, Mr Kasparov told Russian Ekho Moskvy radio that he had been "walking with a group of people along the pavement without any slogans" when riot police had surrounded them.

"They grabbed everyone without distinction, without asking any questions," he said.

There is a war-like situation in the city centre Garry Kasparov Star squares up to Putin

More than 9,000 police had been drafted into Moscow to prevent the rally going ahead.

Mr Kasparov's swift arrest followed warnings by the prosecution office on the eve of the march, stating that anyone participating risked being detained.

And Mr Kasparov said the security presence meant the rally could not go ahead.

"I suppose it will be quite difficult to do anything now, you see, everything is shut off - there is a war-like situation in the city centre, as a matter of fact," he told Russian radio.

The planned march came as Russia warned it wanted the extradition of London-based exile Boris Berezovsky.

Mr Berezovsky told the UK's Guardian newspaper he was plotting "revolution" to overthrow Vladimir Putin.

Accusing Mr Putin of creating an authoritarian regime, the tycoon said that Russia's leadership could only be removed by force.

Later, he clarified his words, stating that he backed "bloodless change" and did not support violence.

Other Russia has called for another massive march in St Petersburg on Sunday, which Moscow has also banned.

U.S. won't release 5 Iranians held in Iraq -report

WASHINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - In a move likely to irritate Tehran, the United States has decided not to release five Iranians captured in Iraq, a newspaper reported on Friday.

The Washington Post said that after intense internal debate, the Bush administration had decided to keep the Iranians in custody and make them go through a periodic six-month review process used for the other 250 foreign detainees held in Iraq.

The next review is not expected until July, the newspaper quoted U.S. officials as saying. Washington says the five, seized in a Jan. 11 raid by U.S. forces in the Kurdish city of Arbil, are linked with Iranian Revolutionary Guard networks involved in providing explosive devices used to attack U.S. troops in Iraq.

Iran says they are diplomats and has demanded their release. The Post said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had wanted to free the men because she judged them no longer useful but went along with the decision to retain them in custody that was strongly supported by Vice President Dick Cheney.