Iraq bombs strike police and embassy, 7 killed
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-19 13:19

Suicide car bombers attacked the Australian embassy and a police headquarters in Baghdad on Wednesday, killing at least seven people in the latest deadly guerrilla strikes before Iraq's Jan. 30 elections.

U.S. Army soldiers watch as Iraqi men carry the coffin of a friend killed in a suicide car bomb attack near the Australian embassy in Baghdad January 19, 2005. Suicide car bombers attacked the Australian embassy and a police headquarters in Baghdad on Wednesday, killing at least seven people in the latest deadly guerrilla strikes before Iraq's January 30 elections. [Reuters]

The first car bomb exploded close to the Australian embassy in the center of the capital, killing at least two Iraqis and wounding seven, police said. An embassy official said no Australians were killed. A U.S. officer at the scene said one Australian was slightly wounded.

Smoke rises following an explosion at dawn in Baghdad, Iraq Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005.[AP]

Shortly afterwards, a suicide car bomber attacked a police headquarters building in eastern Baghdad. Hospital officials said at least five people were killed and 36 were wounded.

An Australian soldier secures the area near the Australian embassy after a suicide car bomb attack in Baghdad early January 19, 2005. [Reuters]

Insurgents have repeatedly targeted Iraqi soldiers and police in the run-up to the elections with suicide bombings and ambushes. Iraqi forces are due to provide protection at polling stations on election day.

On Tuesday, Iraq's U.S.-backed interim government announced a range of unprecedented measures to try to prevent bloodshed during the ballot, with land borders to be closed for three days and vehicles barred from getting close to polling stations.

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