The near-simultaneous explosions near an Interior Ministry building wounded at least 20 other people.
Casualties from the first blast were much worse because it went off in the middle of blocked traffic.
Al-Qaeda in Iraq, a militant group headed by Jordanian radical Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, claimed responsibility for the two blasts in a statement posted on the Internet. The authenticity of the statement could not be independently confirmed.
Earlier, the U.S. military said a car bomb exploded outside a U.S. military installation in Tikrit, injuring nine civilians.
Reports coming out of northern Iraq earlier said that guerrillas attacked a police station in Kirkuk, killing three policemen.
(news agencies)
For the latest news and analysis on Iraq, see RFE/RL's webpage on "The New Iraq".
Casualties from the first blast were much worse because it went off in the middle of blocked traffic.
Al-Qaeda in Iraq, a militant group headed by Jordanian radical Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, claimed responsibility for the two blasts in a statement posted on the Internet. The authenticity of the statement could not be independently confirmed.
Earlier, the U.S. military said a car bomb exploded outside a U.S. military installation in Tikrit, injuring nine civilians.
Reports coming out of northern Iraq earlier said that guerrillas attacked a police station in Kirkuk, killing three policemen.
(news agencies)
For the latest news and analysis on Iraq, see RFE/RL's webpage on "The New Iraq".
