Blast kills 22 in Iraq political rally

At least 22 people have been killed and dozens wounded by a bomb and grenade attack on a rally in eastern Iraq.

Officials said the attacker struck as Sunni candidate Muthana al-Jourani was meeting supporters in Baquba, 60km (35 miles) north-east of Baghdad.

Violence has decreased in Iraq since the peak of the insurgency in 2006 and 2007, but bombings are still common.

The country is braced for an increase in attacks ahead of provincial elections on 20 April.

The elections will be the first in Iraq since 2010.

Baquba is the capital of Diyala province, which has been among the most violent in Iraq.

Police and hospital workers said the attack began when a grenade was thrown into the meeting. A suicide bomber then blew himself up.

At least 50 people were injured. It was unclear whether the candidate himself was hurt.

No group immediately claimed to have carried out the attack, but such incidents are usually blamed on al-Qaeda.