Police and witnesses said a convoy of sport utility vehicles -- of the kind used by Western contractors in Iraq -- passed by as the explosion occurred at Tahrir Square, one of the main commercial areas of Baghdad.
The blast destroyed at least several vehicles and partly demolished a nearby building.
Details about the casualties were still sketchy, but police and hospital officials said at least seven people were killed in the blast and many others injured.
News agencies put the death toll to up to 12 people, many of the dead apparently killed in the collapsed building.
A number of Iraqis gathered around the damaged vehicles chanting anti-American slogans and hitting the burnt-out cars with sticks.
(compiled from wire reports)
The blast destroyed at least several vehicles and partly demolished a nearby building.
Details about the casualties were still sketchy, but police and hospital officials said at least seven people were killed in the blast and many others injured.
News agencies put the death toll to up to 12 people, many of the dead apparently killed in the collapsed building.
A number of Iraqis gathered around the damaged vehicles chanting anti-American slogans and hitting the burnt-out cars with sticks.
(compiled from wire reports)