KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Iraq moved into its first Asian Cup final, beating South Korea 4-3 on penalty kicks Wednesday night after a 0-0 tie. At least 50 fans were killed by car bombs during postgame celebrations in Baghdad.
Iraq advanced to Sunday's final in Jakarta against Saudi Arabia, which beat two-time defending champion Japan 3-2 in Hanoi. The winner of the tournament joins the United States, Brazil, Italy and host South Africa at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup along with the champions of Europe, Africa and Oceania.
Thousands of fans gathered in the central Baghdad district of Karradah to celebrate Iraq's victory by dancing, beating drums and chanting "Iraq! Iraq! The first bomb exploded in a crowd of people cheering near a well-known ice cream parlor in Baghdad's western neighborhood of Mansour, according to police and hospital officials. At least 30 people were killed and 75 were wounded, an Interior Ministry official said.
Another suicide car bomber detonated his payload about 45 minutes later in the midst of dozens of vehicles filled with revelers near an Iraqi army checkpoint in the eastern district of Ghadeer, killing at least 20 people, including two soldiers, and wounding 61, according to the ministry official. Via the Washington Post.
