Suicide bomb attack kills four outside Baghdad hotel

A SUICIDE bomber driving a van disguised as an ambulance blew up the vehicle in front of a Baghdad hotel frequented by Westerners yesterday, killing four people.

The blast at the Shaheen Hotel, which killed a South African man and three others, also injured 17 people.

Security guards opened fire on the vehicle a white van with Red Crescent markings as it drove around concrete barriers near the hotel.

The explosion gouged a huge crater in the street, shattered the ground floor of the three-storey hotel and damaged at least three other buildings.

At least 10 cars parked along the street were severely damaged, some reduced to mounds of twisted metal. The blast hurled remains of one car across the street, and other cars were set alight.

Residents of the hotel included the labour minister, Sami Izara al-Majoun, who was unhurt.

"My guards came to the room and rushed me downstairs. The hotel was burning and there was fire and smoke everywhere," Mr al-Majoun said.

The hotel is located in the Karadah neighbourhood which includes several foreign embassies including the Swiss, Polish and Armenian and the main station of the security force protecting diplomatic missions.

It was the first vehicle bombing in Baghdad since January 18, when 31 people were killed in a blast at a main gate to the headquarters of the US-led coalition. At least five hotels used by foreigners in Baghdad have been attacked by car bombs, rockets and other explosive devices.