TEHRAN, March 4: Iran's official news agency said on Thursday that 49 Iranians were among the 106 people killed in the bomb attacks on Karbala on Tuesday. Iran had previously said 29 Iranians died in the blasts.

Quoting the counsellor at the Iranian embassy in Baghdad, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Irna said 115 Iranians were wounded. Iraq's Governing Council President Mohammed Bahr Al Uloum said on Thursday that 171 people were killed and nearly 400 wounded in attacks on Karbala and a mosque in Baghdad on Tuesday. He said no Iranians were killed or hurt in Baghdad.

Iran's state radio announced on Thursday that the border with Iraq had been sealed and only those leaving Iraq would be permitted to cross. The country has sent dozens of ambulances to Iraq to bring back the dead and wounded Iranians.

Washington says some foreign fighters believed to be carrying out attacks in Iraq are thought to have crossed over from Iran and Syria. -Reuters