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Deadly bomb attacks hit Baghdad Deadly bomb attacks hit Baghdad
(about 2 hours later)
At least 18 people have been killed in two rush-hour bomb attacks in Baghdad.At least 18 people have been killed in two rush-hour bomb attacks in Baghdad.
Security officials say at least 13 people died when a roadside bomb blew up a minibus carrying government employees in eastern Baghdad.Security officials say at least 13 people died when a roadside bomb blew up a minibus carrying government employees in eastern Baghdad.
In a separate incident, a female suicide bomber blew herself up outside the city's heavily guarded Green Zone, killing five people, police said.In a separate incident, a female suicide bomber blew herself up outside the city's heavily guarded Green Zone, killing five people, police said.
The secure area houses foreign embassies, government offices and the Iraqi parliament.The secure area houses foreign embassies, government offices and the Iraqi parliament.
Initial reports say many others have been wounded in the attacks.Initial reports say many others have been wounded in the attacks.
Hospital and police sources are quoted as saying that the 13 killed in the roadside bomb were all female employees in Iraq's trade ministry.Hospital and police sources are quoted as saying that the 13 killed in the roadside bomb were all female employees in Iraq's trade ministry.
Less than an hour later, a female suicide bomber detonated explosives in a crowd of people waiting to enter the Green Zone on their way to work, security officials said. Less than an hour later, a female suicide bomber detonated explosives in a queue of people waiting to enter the Green Zone on their way to work, security officials said.
The US military said the five people killed included two Iraqi soldiers. The Iraqi intelligence service said the five people killed included two of its staff.
"Two women employees of the intelligence services were killed and six guards were wounded in the attack this morning. This attack targeted our checkpoint," a spokesman said, adding that one of the women was pregnant.
Black smoke
The noise of the blast echoed across central Baghdad and a pall of black smoke rose above the site.The noise of the blast echoed across central Baghdad and a pall of black smoke rose above the site.
People who work inside the zone had been queuing to pass through the layers of security which include metal detectors, x-ray machines and body searches. People who work inside the zone had been waiting to pass through the layers of security which include metal detectors, x-ray machines and body searches.
Correspondents say the use of women in suicide bomb attacks in Iraq has become more common. The BBC's Andrew North, in Baghdad, says that suicide attacks carried out by women have become more common. They are often the relatives of insurgents who have been killed by US or Iraqi forces.
Although the level of violence in Iraq has fallen over the last year, insurgents have shown that they are still able to carry out large-scale attacks. Our correspondent says that although the level of violence in Iraq is lower than a year ago, incidents still happen most days in the Iraqi capital.
There has been a spate of bomb attacks in Baghdad and other Iraqi towns and cities over the last two weeks. Over the last two weeks there has been a spate of bomb attacks in Baghdad and other Iraqi towns and cities.