37 killed in Iraq violence

“The bombers blew themselves up amid the crowd. One bomber was dressed in Iraqi military uniform, while the other was wearing civilian clothes,” the officer said. The US military said 20 Iraqi army recruits were killed and 55 wounded. The base has a joint Iraq-US security post but the American military said it suffered no casualties.

Victims were ferried in ambulances and police vans to the nearby hospital in Baquba where relatives rushed to find their loved ones.

Pictures taken by an AFP photographer at the hospital showed the wounded being treated in the lobby which was quickly covered with blood as dozens of victims were brought in.

Outside, a police officer was seen crying next to the body of his slain younger brother, while television footage showed several women searching among the bodies to identify their sons who had gone to the military base.