Suicide bomber kills at least 13 in Iraq

BAGHDAD: A suicide bomber on Thursday killed at least 13 people and injured 23 other in the Iraqi city of Ramadi, Aswat al-Iraq news agency reported.

"Deaths from the Ramadi blast rose to 13, including three policemen, and the wounded to 23, including four policemen," a security source told the news agency.

The deputy governor of al-Anbar province, Hikmat Jassem, was wounded during the attack.

"The tally is not final as the wounded were rushed to more than one hospital in Ramadi," the source added.

A correspondent from the al-Ittijah satellite channel died of wounds he sustained in the deadly blast.

Earlier, officials said a suicide bomber with an explosive belt strapped to his chest targeted a gala celebrating the Prophet Muhammad's Birthday in the central part of the city.

Later after the attack, policemen were searching for two car bombs in central Ramadi after receiving relevant intelligence tip-offs.

Ramadi, the capital city of the troubled predominantly Sunni province of al-Anbar, lies 110 km northwest of Baghdad.

(BNO NEWS )