Baghdad: Suicide truck bomber kills 18 near college

Baghdad, Feb 13: A suicide truck bomber today blew up near a Baghdad college, killing 18 people and wounding 40, police said.

Police said the small truck exploded in a parking lot between the College of Economic Sciences, a private university in western Baghdad's residential Iskan district, and a large foodstuff warehouse belonging to the Trade Ministry.

The blast destroyed one house and severely damaged others, police said.

The explosion followed multiple bombings at two Baghdad markets on Monday that killed at least 77 people and wounded scores.

US-backed Iraqi forces have launched a crackdown in the city to quell sectarian bloodletting between majority Shi'ites and minority Sunnis. The move is seen as a last chance to avert all-out civil war, but it has made little impact so far on the unrelenting violence that has killed tens of thousands.

Reuters