Suicide car bomber strikes in central Baghdad

A Baghdad suicide car bomber detonated his explosives-laden BMW today as a convoy of private American security agents drove by in the second attack in a week near the heavily fortified Sadir Hotel.

The hotel is used by foreign agents and other Westerners involved in Iraqi security operations and reconstruction.

An Iraqi police official said one passer-by was injured, but no one in the convoy was hurt in the explosion, which sent a huge plume of smoke into the sky over Rasafi Street where the hotel is located.

A car bombing near the hotel last Friday killed one Iraqi security guard and wounded two