Civilians killed in Baghdad bomb attack

A car bomb exploded today at an entrance to Baghdad’s Green Zone, a heavily fortified area on the west bank of the Tigris River that is home to the US Embassy and Iraqi government buildings, a military spokesman said.

The explosion happened just before 9am (6am Irish time) and caused a number of civilian casualties, said Maj. Phil Smith, a spokesman for the US 1st Cavalry Division. He had no immediate figures. No coalition forces were believed killed, he said.

Officials at Yarmouk Hospital said they were receiving dead and wounded from the explosion, but declined to provide details.

The Green Zone has been the target of previous suicide attacks that have killed dozens of people.

Insurgents have been waging a 17-month campaign to undermine the US-backed interim government and drive the United States and its allies from Iraq.