10 dead, 45 wounded in Iraq suicide bombing

Baghdad, June 4 (IANS) At least 10 people were killed and over 45 wounded Monday when a suicide bomber blew up his car packed with explosives in Baghdad, authorities said.

The attack occurred at about 10:45 a.m. when the suicide bomber drove his explosives-laden car into the entrance of the Shiite endowment office in Bab al-Mu'tham district, an interior ministry source said.

The powerful blast destroyed part of the office building.

Xinhua correspondent in central Baghdad heard a powerful explosion and saw a plume of black smoke rise above the area.

Iraqi security forces sealed off downtown Baghdad and ambulances, police and civilian cars evacuated the victims.

Sporadic attacks are still common in the Iraqi cities despite the dramatic decrease in violence since its peak in 2006 and 2007 when the country was engulfed in sectarian killings.