VOA News July 15 2011
At least three people were killed following a pair of bombings in Iraq on Friday.
Security officials say a bomb placed under a parked car exploded near the holy city of Karbala, killing at least two people. The blast occurred as thousands of Shi'ite pilgrims gathered for a religious festival in the city.
The incidents took place as the U.S. moves ahead with plans to remove its forces from Iraq by the end of the year. U.S. and Iraqi officials have expressed concern about Baghdad's ability to cope with security after the pull-out.
In a separate development on Friday, Iraqi officials announced plans to execute two half-brothers of former leader Saddam Hussein, after they were handed over by U.S. officials.
Watban Ibrahim al-Hassan and Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hassan received death sentences in 2009 for their roles in the deaths of dozens of Baghdad traders in 1992.
The U.S. also handed over former Defense Minister Sultan Hashim Ahmed and several other high-ranking officials as part of a custody transfer of about 200 inmates in a Baghdad prison.
The U.S. has been turning over facilities that had been under its control to Iraq, ahead of its December withdrawal.
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