A blast near an Iraqi army recruitment centre in west Baghdad has killed at least 13 people and wounded at least 11, hospital officials say.

Black smoke rose into the sky and ambulances raced to the scene.

A police source said the blast was caused by a car bomb that detonated next to a truck carrying recruits to the centre, located in a disused airport.

But other officials said they were still investigating the cause of the explosion.

Hospital officials said all the victims appeared to be young men.

Fighters have frequently targeted Iraqis queuing up to join the police and army.

Separate attacks

In separate incidents, two Iraqis were killed and seven wounded in bomb blasts north of Baghdad, according to security sources.

A civilian died and six others were wounded, including three women, when a roadside bomb hit their vehicle in Shurgat, 300km north of the capital on Monday, said police Lieutenant-Colonel Faris Mahdi.

All casualties were reportedly from the same family.

In the third attack, one soldier was killed and another wounded when their patrol was targeted by a roadside bomb late on Monday in Dhuluiya, 70km north of Baghdad, said army Lieutenant Husain Abbas.

PHOTO CAPTION

A morgue worker walks past bodies in the courtyard of a morgue after a blast shook an Iraqi army recruiting center in Baghdad, Iraq Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2005. (AP)