Car bomb kills six in Baghdad

A car bomb exploded today near the gate to a US-run base north of Baghdad, killing six people and injuring 20 others, including two American soldiers.

It was the latest of a series of attacks against occupation forces and their Iraqi allies.

Also today, the US military freed more detainees from the notorious Abu Ghraib prison, the centre of the scandal involving abuse of inmates by American soldiers.

It was the fourth major release from the facility since the scandal broke in April.

Detainees freed today complained they were forced to eat food fit only for animals, though they said the quality had improved in recent weeks.

Following today’s blast, ambulances, Humvees and Iraqi police rushed to evacuate the injured at the Taji air base, 12 miles north of Baghdad.

Soldiers cleared the area at the former Iraqi air force base now used by the US Army’s 1st Cavalry Division.

In another attack today, a roadside bomb exploded as a US convoy passed in the Baghdad Shiite neighbourhood of Sadr City, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring two Iraqi police officers.

Iraq’s new prime minister, Iyad Allawi, has called for a halt to attacks on Americans and other foreign soldiers, saying their presence would be needed even after the transfer of sovereignty to help the new leadership improve security.

Despite the attacks, tensions have eased in the Shiite holy cities of Najaf and Kufa after a deal enabling Iraqi police to extend their control from gunmen loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

US troops who have been fighting the militia have agreed to allow the police to take over security, reducing the chances of clashes.

Yesterday’s roadside bombing, which occurred in eastern Baghdad, was the second fatal attack against American troops in the capital in as many days.

Five US soldiers were killed and five wounded on Friday in an ambush near the Shiite neighbourhood Sadr City, an al-Sadr stronghold.

Assailants also ambushed two civilian 4-wheel drive vehicles, favoured by Western civilian contractors, on the road to Baghdad’s international airport.

An Iraqi Interior Ministry official said two or three people were killed but he had no further information.

Another civilian car carrying Westerners was attacked yesterday in the northern city of Mosul.

Police said one civilian was killed and three others were injured but they refused to identify them by nationality.

Late yesterday, residents reported an armed clash in Fallujah, the restive Sunni Muslim city that was the scene of heavy fighting between Marines and insurgents in April.