BAGHDAD A female suicide bomber laden with explosives blew herself up yesterday among Shi'ite pilgrims on the outskirts of the Iraqi capital, killing at least 46 people, security officials said.

Iraq is trying to leave years of bombings, killings and sectarian slaughter behind as it moves to cement security gains made in the last two years and revamp an oil sector that gives Iraq nearly all of its revenues.

The bombing took place as thousands of Shi'ite Muslims flooded the streets for the start of an arduous trek to the southern city of Kerbala, 80 km (50 miles) southwest of Baghdad, for the religious rite of Arbain.