KARBALA.

KARBALA, Iraq (AFP) ??” Almost 140 family were killed as Shiite Muslims came in a less degree than attack in coordinated attacks in the cities of Karbala and Baghdad, onward the deadliest day in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

As Shiites marked the religious holy day of Ashura, a series of blasts killed 85 the community and wounded 240 in their sacred city of Karbala, toward the south of the capital, the arbitrator investigating the attacks, Ahmed al-Hillali, told AFP.

Interim health minister Khdeir Abbas said at least 54 were killed in Baghdad, 110 kilometres (70 miles) to the north. As many as 300 were pain ed

The combined toll made it the deadliest day since Saddam was overthrown by the agency of a US-led coalition in April, overtaking the a 105 killed in twin anti-Kurdish suicide bombings in the northern city of Arbil forward February 1.

The Karbala blasts were a coordinated attack involving a suicide