Car bomb kills 16 in Baghdad

A suicide attacker exploded a car bomb as a US military convoy drove down a Baghdad street today. Police said at least 16 people had been killed.

The attack took place in the al-Amel neighbourhood, said a police lieutenant. It was the second suicide attack in and around the capital in less than four hours.

Earlier, a car bomb blew up in front of a government complex west of the capital, killing at least one US soldier, two Iraqi policemen and wounding more than 60 people, Iraqi and coalition officials said.

The bomber targeted a compound in the Abu Ghraib area housing the mayor’s office, a police station and other buildings.

“This despicable act killed not only a multi-national force soldier, but Iraqis who were merely going about their business of defending this country,” said Lt Col Jim Hutton, spokesman for the US 1st Cavalry.