A suicide car bombing in Baghdad has killed at least five Iraqis and one U.S. soldier.
The U.S. military says the suicide bomber also died in the blast that left at least 23 others wounded, including three soldiers. Some of the wounded are said to be in serious condition.
The explosion occurred this (Thursday) morning just outside a blast wall that shields the compound housing the headquarters of the US -led coalition authority in central Baghdad.
A number of cars lined up for a security check were badly damaged by the powerful explosion. Some of the vehicles were reduced to twisted, charred metal.
A few hours later, a roadside bomb exploded in a commercial area of the Iraqi capital, causing damage to nearby vehicles and injuring at least one person.
Meanwhile, in the town of Baquba, north of Baghdad, explosions damaged the local headquarters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (P.U.K), which is headed by Jalal Talabani -a member of the U.S. appointed Iraqi Governing Council.
Farther to the north, in the oil rich city of Kirkuk, assailants shot and killed a top senior Iraqi Agricultural Ministry official (Heiwa Najuib Mohamed) and his driver. The official was on his way to work when gunmen attacked hisvehicle.
information for this story is provided by Reuters, AP, AFP