Iraq suicide bombings kill 23, dozens wounded

In the deadliest blast, a man strapped with explosives blew himself up at a west Baghdad airfield now used as a military recruiting centre, Iraqi police said.

Early casualty reports varied, with a hospital official reporting at least 16 dead, while a Defence Ministry employee reported up to 25 killed.

The explosion occurred just before 1030 local time at the recruiting centre, which has been hit several times earlier by suicide attackers.

About 400 would-be recruits jammed the gate on Sunday before the bomber detonated himself, Police Sgt Ali
Hussein said.

A Defence Ministry employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, reported 25 dead and 25 wounded.

He said he was citing figures from the ministry’s operations room.

Separately, a suicide car bomber rammed into a police convoy near the northern city of Mosul, killing four policemen and wounding three, the police said.

The convoy was carrying Brig Gen Salim Salih Meshaal, who escaped injury.

In a third attack, a suicide car bomb exploded in Kirkuk, killing at least three civilians and wounding 16 more, police said.

The attack occurred on a highway near a hospital and municipal building.

The bomber used a Mercedes Benz and the force of the blast toppled a few trees and shattered several windows in
surrounding buildings.