July 25, 2007	Wednesday	Rajab 09, 1428

HILLA (Iraq), July 24: A suicide car bomb exploded across the street from a children's hospital in the Iraqi city of Hilla on Tuesday, killing at least 26 people and wounding 69, police and medical officials said.

“Most of the wounded were women and children, and the blast destroyed 15 vehicles and about 20 nearby shops,” said police.

Doctor Mohammed Dhia, head surgeon at the Hilla hospital confirmed the casualties, adding that 25 of those wounded had serious injuries, including severe burns.

Medical officials earlier confirmed that bodies had been evacuated to two hospitals in the area.—AFP