Car bomb blast kills 19 near Baghdad

BAGHDAD – A car bomb exploded near Iraqi police outside a hospital in a town south of Baghdad yesterday, killing 19 people and wounding dozens, doctors at the local hospital and witnesses said.

The explosives-packed car was parked in front of Mahmoudiya’s General Hospital and blew up as two patrols of Iraqi police pulled up outside, witnesses said. Doctors at the hospital said 34 people were also wounded in the blast.It was not clear if it was a suicide car bomb attack.Earlier, Interior Ministry sources said seven people had been killed and at least 10 wounded.The bombing is the latest in an apparently stepped up campaign of militant violence over the past week and in the run-up to parliamentary elections set for December 15.- Nampa-ReutersDoctors at the hospital said 34 people were also wounded in the blast.It was not clear if it was a suicide car bomb attack.Earlier, Interior Ministry sources said seven people had been killed and at least 10 wounded.The bombing is the latest in an apparently stepped up campaign of militant violence over the past week and in the run-up to parliamentary elections set for December 15.- Nampa-Reuters