Kerbala police find huge explosives in truck

Iraqi police in the Shi'ite Muslim holy city of Kerbala said yesterday that they found and defused a huge truck bomb, days before a religious festival.

"The truck was packed with high-explosives in 16 gas canisters, two 200-litre barrels full of gasoline and explosives and two large rockets as well as a large artillery shell," said police.

In total, it carried about a tonne of explosives.