Al-Qaida in Iraq claims responsibility for attack

Two suicide bombers wearing senior police uniforms and holding security passes tried to attack National Police Day celebrations today, with police shooting one dead and the other exploding his vest, killing 29 people, police said.

The US ambassador and Iraq’s interior and defence ministers were in attendance but were far from the attacks.

An internet site known for publishing extremist material from al Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi carried a claim of responsibility for the attack, saying it was in revenge for the alleged torture of Sunni prisoners at an Interior Ministry facility.

Another statement purportedly by al-Zarqawi rebuked Sunni Arabs for taking part in last month’s parliamentary elections, saying they had “thrown a rope” to save US policy.

Meanwhile, the US military said eight US troops and four American civilians died aboard a US Army Black Hawk helicopter that crashed on Saturday evening in northern Iraq.