Bomb kills 23 in Iraqi restaurant

A SUICIDE bomb ripped through a popular Baghdad kebab restaurant at lunchtime yesterday, killing at least 23 people and wounding 36.

The bomber detonated a vest laden with explosives at about 2.45pm in the Ibn Zanbour restaurant, which is just 400 yards from the main gate of the heavily fortified Green Zone and is especially popular with Iraqi police and soldiers.

Seven policemen were among those killed, while the injured included 16 officers, Iraqi army major Falah Al-Mehmadawi said.