BASRA: A suicide bomber disguised as a policeman killed at least 15 people in an attack that targeted Muslim pilgrims passing through a checkpoint in Iraq's southern city of Basra on Saturday, police said.  

The attack at the end of Arbain, one of the main holy days of the Shi'ite calendar, occurred at a time when a political crisis in Iraq's government has renewed fears of a return to sectarian violence in the country. AGENCIES