Blast in Iraqi city claims lives

20/07/2009| IslamWeb

At least three people have been killed and dozens injured in a car-bomb blast in Ramadi in western Iraq - the city's second attack in a week.

The device exploded outside the local government offices, killing two policemen and one civilian, officials said.

Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, had seen a sharp drop in violence over the past 18 months, as local tribes allied with US-led forces.

But violence across Iraq has increased after US troops pulled out of cities and towns three weeks ago.

Monday's attack comes a week after six people were killed in a suicide car bombing near a mosque in Ramadi.

Violence across the country increased in the run-up to the US military withdrawal, with 437 Iraqis killed in June - the highest death toll in 11 months.

PHOTO CAPTION

An Iraqi soldier mans his gun in the city of Ramadi.

Al-Jazeera