The fatal incident occurred as spectators gathered to watch the final match of the country’s first foreign soccer tournament in four decades. Iraq’s news agency said some of the other 60 people who were wounded outside Basra’s International Stadium are in critical condition.
The final adjustment of the eight-nation Arabian Gulf Cup is scheduled for later Thursday between Iraq and Oman.
The tournament saw several incidents, adding chaos within the VIP segment in which a Kuwaiti prince was unable to attend the opening match earlier this month.
The tournament began on January 6 with the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates), as well as Yemen and Iraq. This is the first time since 1979 that Iraq has hosted the tournament.
(AFP)