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Suicide blasts hits Baghdad hotel Baghdad blast kills Sunni leaders
(about 1 hour later)
At least 12 people have been killed and 15 injured in a suicide attack on a hotel in central Baghdad. A number of senior Sunni tribal leaders have been killed in a suicide bombing at a hotel in central Baghdad, which has left 12 dead and 15 injured.
Sunni tribal leaders meeting at the Mansour Hotel were the target of the attack, police say. One of them, Fasal al-Khoud, is said to be among the dead. "According to initial reports, six sheikhs are among the dead," Lieutenant Colonel Scott Bleichwehl said.
An Iraqi journalist, Rahim al-Maliki, who worked for al-Iraqiya TV, was also killed in the blast. Sunni tribal leaders meeting at the Mansour Hotel were the target of the attack, police say.
Earlier, blasts in the southern city of Hilla, and in the city of Baiji, in the north, left at least 18 people dead.Earlier, blasts in the southern city of Hilla, and in the city of Baiji, in the north, left at least 18 people dead.
'Huge explosion''Huge explosion'
The bomb exploded in the lobby of the Mansour Hotel, which is used by Westerners and Iraqi officials.The bomb exploded in the lobby of the Mansour Hotel, which is used by Westerners and Iraqi officials.
US forces have now sealed the hotel off.US forces have now sealed the hotel off.
Sunni tribal leaders from the western Anbar province had been meeting at the hotel. The whole building shook for a few seconds Witness Sunni tribal leaders from the western Anbar province had been meeting at the hotel.
Reports said that Sunni tribal leader Fasal al-Khoud was among the dead.
Mr al-Khoud was one of the founders of the Anbar Salvation Council which has close contacts with the US-led coalition.Mr al-Khoud was one of the founders of the Anbar Salvation Council which has close contacts with the US-led coalition.
An Iraqi journalist, Rahim al-Maliki, who worked for al-Iraqiya TV, was also killed in the blast.
"It was a huge explosion, the whole building shook for a few seconds," one witness said."It was a huge explosion, the whole building shook for a few seconds," one witness said.
A Mansour Hotel worker, Saif al-Rubaie, 28, told the Associated Press the casualties were Iraqis, mostly employees who were in the reception area.A Mansour Hotel worker, Saif al-Rubaie, 28, told the Associated Press the casualties were Iraqis, mostly employees who were in the reception area.
The hotel, situated on the banks of the Tigris River, is near Baghdad's Green Zone and often used by Iraqi officials visiting the capital.The hotel, situated on the banks of the Tigris River, is near Baghdad's Green Zone and often used by Iraqi officials visiting the capital.
A number of foreigners also live in the hotel.A number of foreigners also live in the hotel.
In other attacks across the country, at least eight people died when a bomb ripped into a crowd of police recruits outside the governer's office in Hilla, 100km (60 miles) south of Baghdad. In other attacks across the country, at least eight people died when a bomb ripped into a crowd of police recruits outside the governor's office in Hilla, 100km (60 miles) south of Baghdad.
And at least 10 people were killed when an attacker rammed an oil tanker into the police HQ in the northern oil city of Baiji. And at least 10 people were killed when an attacker rammed an oil tanker into the police HQ in Baiji.