Blast in Baghdad Kills At Least 12

The suicide attack was the second in Iraq’s capital in as many days. On Sunday, a car bomb exploded near a U.S.-Iraqi base, killing at least 12 Iraqis — including four police officers — and wounding 13.

Monday’s car bombing occurred during the morning rush hour. Police said the bomber in a red four-wheel-drive vehicle set off an explosion, hitting two Coalition Provisional Authority vehicles, according to Reuters.

In all, the blast destroyed eight vehicles, several nearby shops and a two-story house.

“Today’s explosion targeted foreign civilians working in the rebuilding of electricity works. Five of them were killed and three were lightly wounded,” Iraqi interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi told reporters.

“The terrorists are trying to prevent the transfer of power and sovereignty on June 30,” he said.

The U.S. military said the dead included two Britons, one Frenchman, one American and a foreigner of undetermined nationality, according to the Associated Press. More than 60 people, including ten foreign contractors, were reportedly injured.

After the blast, crowds began chanting, “Down with the USA!” and burning an American flag. Dozens of people danced on the roofs of the CPA vehicles, saying, “America is the enemy of God” and set fire to their fuel tanks.

U.S. tanks and other military vehicles escorted by soldiers on foot later sealed off the area with razor wire, Reuters reported.

Police said a car bomb also went off Monday near the town of Salman Pak southeast of Baghdad when a gray Opel drove between police vehicles and exploded, killing four people and injuring four others. However, the report could not be independently verified and police were unable to provide a detailed report of the incident, according to the AP.

There have been 17 car bombings and a near-daily series of attacks in Iraq this month. The attacks have also targeted members of the Iraqi interim government formed June 1. Education Ministry official Kamal al-Jarah was shot outside his home Sunday, and Deputy Foreign Minister Bassam Salih Kubba was shot while driving to work Saturday.

Two other top Iraqi officials with the police force narrowly escaped death over the weekend.

Allawi accused Jordanian-born terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi of trying to derail the June 30 transfer to Iraqi sovereignty.

“Al-Zarqawi and his followers are earnestly working to prevent the success of this measure,” he said, reported the AP.

“I want our people to be patient this month against those forces which are trying to assault them, and I promise the people that we are going to get rid of them and victory will be ours to build a free and decent Iraq life.”