In Iraq, casualties from the powerful blast that targeted Shiite visitors in Karbala Wednesday rose to 23 dead and 147 wounded persons. Most of the victims were Shia pilgrims who were travelling to the holy city for the annual Arbaeen religious rite.Voice of Iraq news agency quoting medical sources has reported that all injured were taken to al-Hussein and al- Nasiriya hospitals. Karbala is 110 km southwest of Baghdad. It was the second such attack on pilgrims this month. Earlier on 1st of this month at least 41 people were killed and more than 100 injured in an attack by a suspected female suicide bomber in Baghdad.