Iraq blast damages mine-clearing offices

A gasoline tanker exploded tonight outside the offices of a British land mine clearing agency in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil, causing minor damage but no casualties, officials said.

Adnan al-Mufti, an official of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, said the blast occurred about 9.30pm. Outside the office of the Mine Action Group, damaging windows but causing no substantial damage.

Police and Kurdish militiamen sealed off the area. Al-Mufti blamed the explosion on supporters of Saddam Hussein.

It was the second explosion in as many days in the Kurdish-controlled area, one of the quietest sectors in the country.

On Thursday, a truck bomb exploded near a Kurdish party office in the northern oil city of Kirkuk, killing five people and wounding 30. Local officials blamed the attack on Islamic extremists linked to al-Qaida.