Twin bomb explosions at Iraq funeral procession kill 20

Two successive bombs explode near a funeral procession in the Iraqi city of Baquba, killing at least 20 people and injuring several others.

Local Iraqi security officials say over two dozen others were injured in the bomb attacks which targeted the funeral of a university professor killed a day earlier.

Militants frequently attack religious events and social gatherings in an attempt to cause maximum casualties.

The blasts in the capital of Diyala Province come as militants have seized control the entire northern province of Nineveh, including its capital Mosul.

Mosul is the second Iraqi city to fall to militants this year, after the government lost control of Fallujah in early January.

Iraq is currently witnessing a wave of violence unprecedented in recent years.

Almost 800 Iraqis, mostly civilians, lost their lives in May alone. Last year, more than 8800 people died in the violence.

Most attacks are blamed on the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a group which is also active in Syria.

Takfiri groups, including the so-called ISIL, are reportedly coming to Iraq from neighboring Syria and Saudi Arabia to undermine security in the country.

The government in Iraq has blamed Riyadh for the chaos, saying Saudi Arabia is funding and arming militants fighting against Iraqi forces in the country’s western areas, including Anbar Province.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has said Saudi Arabia and Qatar are responsible for the security crisis and growing terrorism in his country, denouncing the Al Saud regime as a major supporter of global terrorism.