Baghdad: Two explosions kill at least seven Iraqis

Two bombs exploded minutes apart near a central Baghdad square today, killing at least seven people and wounding about 20 more.

The first bomb was in a plastic bag placed near a CD vendor’s stand close to Tahrir Square by a man who fled seconds before the explosion which killed at least three people, said Capt. Mohammed Abdel Ghani.

Abdel Ghani said he was among several policemen who went to the scene of the first blast, 10 minutes after which he witnessed a second bomb hidden in a drain explode, killing four people including one policeman.

“The vendors were apparently the target of the first explosions because they sell pornographic CDs, while the second was aimed at a police patrol,” said Lt. Mohammed Khayoun.

Officials at two hospitals where the casualties were taken confirmed that seven people were killed and at least 20 wounded in both bombings.