Suicide bomber kills 10, wounds 40

A SUICIDE attacker detonated a massive car bomb yesterday at a checkpoint near the British Embassy and headquarters of the interim Iraqi government.

The suicide attack was the worst in Baghdad since the US transferred sovereignty to the interim Iraqi government on June 28, killing at least 10 people and wounding 40, including a US soldier, authorities said.

Hours earlier, the Philippines said it had begun withdrawing its small peacekeeping contingent from Iraq, an apparent bid to placate militants who threatened to kill a Filipino hostage if the troops were not out by July 20.