Police said armed men attacked two checkpoints leading to the ministry building, which allowed a garbage truck packed with explosives to get inside the compound before exploding.
Al-Qaeda's wing in Iraq, led by Jordanian militant Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on an Islamist website.
In the southern port city of Al-Basrah today, police say a bomb attack killed an Iraqi police officer and wounded three people.
In separate developments, authorities today said the bodies of 19 people have been found near the western town of Qaim, near the Syrian border. Officials say the people -- apparently civilians -- were shot to death several days ago.
Also, the Iraqi Army says it has found 15 beheaded corpses -- both men and women -- south of Baghdad, near the town of Al-Latifiyah.
(Reuters/AFP/AP)
For the latest news and analysis on Iraq, see RFE/RL's webpage on "The New Iraq".
Al-Qaeda's wing in Iraq, led by Jordanian militant Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on an Islamist website.
In the southern port city of Al-Basrah today, police say a bomb attack killed an Iraqi police officer and wounded three people.
In separate developments, authorities today said the bodies of 19 people have been found near the western town of Qaim, near the Syrian border. Officials say the people -- apparently civilians -- were shot to death several days ago.
Also, the Iraqi Army says it has found 15 beheaded corpses -- both men and women -- south of Baghdad, near the town of Al-Latifiyah.
(Reuters/AFP/AP)
For the latest news and analysis on Iraq, see RFE/RL's webpage on "The New Iraq".
