August 04, 2008	Monday	Sha'aban 1 429

BAGHDAD, Aug 3: A series of bomb attacks in Baghdad early on Sunday killed 12 people and wounded at least 34, witnesses and officials said.

A small truck parked near the passport office on Magreb Street in the north of the city killed 12 people and wounded 23, defence and interior ministry sources said.

Several people suffered burns as flames from the powerful blast swept skywards, damaging buildings, they said.

Bloodstains were still visible on the busy commercial street as dozens of Iraqi soldiers set about clearing debris as far as 100 metres from the seat of the blast.

Meanwhile, on Palestine Street in central Baghdad a roadside bomb targeting a passing police patrol wounded nine people, including six civilians.

A third attack thought to have targeted government vehicles wounded two civilians in the southeastern neighbourhood of Al-Ghadir.

The rush hour strikes were the first attacks in the city since last Monday when three suicide bombers, believed to be women, blew themselves up among pilgrims in the capital, killing at least 25 and wounding around 75.

Sunday’s bombings came as the Iraqi parliament was due to tackle a disputed provincial election bill that has heightened tensions over the oil-rich northern region of Kirkuk, casting doubt over polls originally set for October.

Thousands of Arabs staged a noisy rally in the northern city of Hawija on Saturday to protest against fresh moves to incorporate Kirkuk into the autonomous Kurdish region.

Kirkuk has been gripped by ethnic tension since the invasion, with Arab and Turkmen residents fearful they would be marginalised if the city were handed over to the Kurds.—Agencies