Car bomb kills 16 at police station

AN explosion at a police station in western Iraq yesterday killed 16 policemen and two civilians, including a seven-year-old girl, and wounded 33 more, the US military said.

The car bombing in Khaldiyah, 50 miles west of Baghdad, killed police officers, city workers and civilian bystanders, US Army Lt Col Jeff Swisher said.

"About 8:30am, a car bomb was detonated at Khaldiyah police station. We have some indication that it's a suicide bomber. But it's too early to give a final judgement," Lt Col Swisher told reporters at the scene.