Two killed in Iraq truck explosion

A truck exploded today behind a US military police patrol in the central Iraqi city of Samarra, killing two Iraqis and injuring 40 other people, including seven American soldiers who received slight wounds from flying glass, the US military said.

The blast, in a Toyota pick-up, damaged a dozen other vehicles parked near a police station and the municipal council building in the centre of the city, according to Captain Jennifer Knight of the 720th Military Police Battalion.

She said the seven injured Americans were from a Civil Affairs Unit and were working inside the city council building when the blast occurred about 10.25am. Thirty-three Iraqis were also hurt but most of the injuries were not serious, officials said.

The American military police patrol was turning into a police station to link up with Iraqi police when the explosion occurred, according to Sgt Maj Nathan Wilson of the 720th Military Police Battalion.

Master Sgt Robert Cargie, a spokesman for the 4th Infantry Division in Tikrit, said the explosives were detonated either with a timing device or by remote control.

Iraqi police stations have been the target of frequent vehicle bombings in the past few months. Most stations are far less protected than American installations.

Samarra was the scene of heavy fighting on November 30 when insurgents fought running battles with American troops in Samarra. US officials estimated 54 Iraqis were killed. Five Americans were wounded.

The fighting erupted when attackers, many wearing uniforms of Saddam Hussein’s Fedayeen militia, opened fire simultaneously on two US supply convoys delivering new currency to local banks.