48 killed in Baghdad car bombing

BAGHDAD - At least 48 people were killed and 121 injured in a car bomb blast in northwestern Baghdad Thursday, an interior ministry official said.

The attack took place in the afternoon when a booby-trapped car parked in Shula area was detonated, the official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Following the deadly blast, dozens of angry residents protested against the security forces, accusing them of failure in protecting innocent people.

Iraqi security forces opened fire in the air to disperse the protesters, but there were some armed men in the crowd who responded to the fire, the official said.

It was not clear whether there was any casualty in the shooting, he said.

Authorities imposed curfew in the area and blocked the entrances. The area has been brought under control, he added.