At least three people were killed and dozens...

At least 54 people, 37 of them Iranians, were injured in the blast near the Imam Ali Holy Shrine.

The blast is the most recent in a series of attacks which took place despite heavy measures to provide security at the elections, widely seen as a crucial precursor to a complete US military withdrawal from the country.

On Thursday, a total of 12 people were killed in the blasts which took place during the early voting for those unable to cast their ballots in Sunday"s polls.

Some 18.5 million people are expected to go more than 80,000 polling stations across Iraq when the vote begins at 8:00 local time on Sunday (6:00 GMT). They will choose among 6,292 candidates from 12 coalition blocs and 165 political units, who will run for 325 seats in the Iraqi parliament.

"Iraq is now at a crossroads: one road leads to peace, the other — to chaos," professor Hazem al-Nuaimi told RIA Novosti. "The increasing political tensions and instability show that the fight

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