 A car bomb has exploded in western Baghdad, near the party headquarters of the interim prime minister, killing at least five people, including four police officers, and injuring 15, officials say. Smoke was seen rising on Monday near the Green Zone compound where the interim Iraqi government of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and the US embassy are. Allawi was not in the area at the time of the blast, officials in the prime minister's office said. US and Iraqi troops sealed off the area and helicopters buzzed overhead. Ambulances were also seen rushing to the site. Iraqi journalist Ziyad al-Samarrai told Aljazeera that the car bomber attempted to enter the headquarters of the Iraqi National Accord (al-Wifaq) party headed by Allawi, but he was stopped at an Iraqi police checkpoint. The bomber detonated his vehicle at the checkpoint as he could not pass through them, he added. |