BBC News with Julie Candler. Officials in Iraq say a series of attacks targeting Shia pilgrims have killed 33 people and wounded more than 100. The pilgrims were on their way to the shrine of Imam Moussa al-Kadhim in Baghdad for religious festival. These attacks came at the time when the United States are speeding up its (withdraw) of combat troops. Gabriel Gatehouse reports from Baghdad. The first blast came from a (suicide) bomber who detonated the explosive vest as he walked among the worshipers towards the shrine. Two other bombs planted by the roadside in different areas of the capital also seem designed to target pilgrims. Hundreds of thousands of Shias may cross Iraq and beyond have been making their way to the shrine over the past two days. Securities have been tight and thousands of extra police and military officers drafted onto the street. But while the (overall) level of violence is much lower than it was a few years ago and setarian tensions have eased, attacks of this kind are still all too frequent. The Cuban government has agreed to free 52 political prisoners, this amounts to the biggest mass liberation of Cuban prisoners in decades. From Havana, this is Michael Voss. News of the move came in a statement issued by the head of the Roman Catholic church in Cuba Cardinal Jaime Ortega. The Cardinal said that he attended a meeting earlier in the day with President Raul Castro and one of Spain's Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, who is currently visiting Cuba. They were sent in the forms about the (releases), the names of the prisoners have yet to be reviewed, 5 are due to be set free later today, the remainder over the next few months. American prosecutors have endited 11 people (accused) of spying for Russia in the United States. The ten in custody have been taken to New York to face the charges in singel federal court. The 11th went missing after he was granted bail in Cyprus. James Reynalds in Washington reports. The judicial process clearly moves forward. It's important to stress that there has been no official comment here on reports coming fron Russia that the UNited States may be preparing to release the defendants as part of the swap or (exchange). But the 2 goverments have been in contact. On Wednesday morning, the US Under Secretary of state William Burns held a regularly scheduled meeting with the Russian ambassador, Sergei Kislyak at the Russian embassy here in Washington. The state department spokesman told the reporters that it's likely that the two men discuss the espionage case but he did not comment on reports of a possible (swap). The department of Justice in the United States has charged 5 men with being involved in alleged al-Qaeda plots to attack targets in New York and UNited Kingdom. Some of the charges relate to an alleged plot reviewed last year to set off bombs in New York sbuway system. The Justice department says that was directed by senior al-Qaeda leaders in Pakistan. World News from the BBC. The EUropean parliament has voted to ban the import of illegally logged timber. The European UNion is one of the world's biggest importers of timber, but up to a 5th that the (amount) may have been fell illegally. The new rules passed by (overwhelming) majority would come into effect in 2012. The British Prime Minsiter David Cameron has said he doesn't believe British combat troops should be in Afghanistan in 5 years time. He was speaking just before it was announced that Britain is handing over responsibility for Sangin, one of the most dangerous areas of Helmand province to American forces. Rob Watson reports. David Cameron has said before that he can't see British troops remaining in Afhganistan beyond 2015, but this was his most unanbiguous statement yet. He told MPs he wanted to be clear but he didn't think British troops should be there even in a combat role or in significant numbers in 5 years time. That he should choose to make such statements in parliament underlines his (apparent) conviction that there need to be a time table for Britain's involvement even if the governemnt doesn't like to talk in terms of deadlines. British scientists accused of manipulating data to exagerate the extent to which human activity causing climate change have been cleared of dishonesty. The university of East Anglia commisioned and inquiry into its climatic research unit after critics said / show the sicentists had clued to mislead. Reviews chairman said the scientists honestly was not in doubt but they had criticize them for the way they had (presented) some findings and for not being sufficiently transparent with their data. Spain has beaten Germany 1-0 in the second semi-final of the Football World Cup in South Africa. The Spainish defender Carles Puyol scored with a powerful header deep into the second half to insure a place in Sunday final where they'll play the Netherlands, neither team has ever won the competition before.