Iraq suicide bomb at Kurdish politicalrally kills 30

A suicide bombing at a rally in north-eastern Iraq has killed 30 people, security officials say. The attack took place at a political gathering in the town of Khanaqin, which has a large Kurdish population. It was the deadliest bombing among a wave of attacks to hit Iraq on Monday.

Iraqis are voting in the country's first parliamentary election since the withdrawal of US troops almost three years ago, but it comes amid the worst unrest since 2008. People at the rally had gathered to watch television footage of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, casting his vote in Germany. 

Mr Talabani suffered a stroke in December 2012 and has been receiving treatment in Germany "The attacker snuck among the crowds near the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's [Mr Talabani's party] headquarters and blew himself up, causing a tragic massacre," a police officer told Reuters news agency. At least 50 others were injured in the blast.