10 dead in Iraq suicide bombs

Two suicide bombers have killed around 10 people outside the offices of a Kurdish political party in northern Iraq.

The bombers walked into the offices of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Kurdistan Democratic Party and detonated their devices.

Sources say hundreds of people had gathered into the offices in Arbil to mark the start of major Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha.

One of those killed was reported to be the deputy governor of the province.

Hundreds had gathered at both party offices to mark the start of the four-day Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, a major Muslim holiday.

Irbil Governor Akram Mintik and the deputy prime minister of the region, Sami Abdul Rahman, were at the building of the Kurdistan Democratic Party at the time of the attack, which took place about 10.45am, KDP official Mohammed Munif said.

He said the two officials were greeting people when the first attacker approached them and detonated the explosives strapped around his body. He said many people were killed but this could not be independently confirmed

The second attack took place at about the same time in the office of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan across town, PUK spokesman Kadhim Ali said. He said several people were killed and injured in the PUK attack.

US military officials had said they were prepared for any upsurge of violence in connection with the holiday. The start of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan last year marked a sharp escalation in violence against the US-led coalition and its Iraqi allies.

The attacks occurred a day after a car bomb outside a police station in the northern city of Mosul killed at least nine people and injured 45.