BAGHDAD, JULY 17, SPA -- UP TO 55 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN AN ATTACK AROUND A CROWDED MARKET IN A VIOLENT TOWN JUST OUTSIDE BAGHDAD ON MONDAY, POLICE AND INTERIOR MINISTRY SOURCES SAID. THERE WERE CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS FROM OFFICIALS ABOUT THE EVENTS. IN BAGHDAD, POLICE AND MINISTRY SOURCES SAID A CAR BOMB DEVASTATED THE MARKET IN MAHMUDIYA, JUST SOUTH OF THE CITY. BUT IN THE TOWN ITSELF, A POLICE COMMANDER SAID A SERIES OF EXPLOSIONS, REPORTED TO REUTERS BY LOCAL RESIDENTS, WERE MORTARS FALLING ON THE TOWN, FOLLOWED BY A RAMPAGE BY GUNMEN THROUGH THE MARKET -- A RARE TACTIC IN IRAQ AGAINST CIVILIAN TARGETS. --SPA 17/07/2006 12:21 ت م www.spa.gov.sa/376095