January 22, 2008	Tuesday	Muharram 12, 1429

TIKRIT (Iraq), Jan 21: A suicide bomber blasted a hall crowded with mourners at a funeral for a relative of an Iraqi police colonel on Monday, killing at least 17 people, police said.

The powerful explosion ripped through the crowd and caused part of the hall to collapse on top of mourners, said Major Muthanna al-Qaisi of Tikrit police, adding that at least 11 people were wounded.

Qaisi said the attack took place around 6.30 pm (1530 GMT) at Al-Hajaj village near the city of Baiji during a condolence meeting for a relative of the deputy chief of security in Salaheddin province, Colonel Ahmed Abdallah al-Juburi.

—AFP