A big explosion rocked centralBaghdad on Monday evening, causing many casualties, witnesses said.The blast took place outside a Catholic church in the Doradistrict in southwestern Baghdad.

More than 20 people were injured and the casualties wereexpected to rise, said hospital sources.

The cause of the blast was unclear yet.

On Aug. 1, five Christian churches were attacked in Baghdad andnorthern city of Mosul in a series of car bombings, which killed 10people and wounded more than 50 others, marking the first attacktargeting the country's Christian minority during the months-longviolent insurgency.

Source: Xinhua