Iraq Watch: July 10, 2005

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A suicide bomber dressed in civilian clothes killed at least 25 people and wounded nearly 50 in an early morning attack outside of an Iraqi army recruiting center in central Baghdad.

The attack was claimed by al-Qaida in Iraq, led by the Jordanian born militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Near the Syrian border, two suicide car bombers killed at least seven Iraqi customs officials. The attack occured around 2:20 p.m. near the al-Walid border crossing. The crossing, one of three leagal border crossings between Syria and Iraq, was closed by U.S. troops following the suicide blasts.

Elsewhere, six U.S. troops were injured in two seperate suicide bombings - one in Baghdad and one in Fallujah - on Sunday.

Near Mosul, a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden car into an Iraqi army convoy killing five policemen and injuring another three.

Also, four Iraqis were killed in a suicide bombing in the northern city of Kirkuk. At least 15 others were wounded in the attack.

In the capital city of Baghdad a Shiite family of eight were found killed in their home Sunday. The mother, along with seven of her children, had been shot to death in their sleep.

The body of Iraq's karate association chief was found floating in a river with several gunshot wounds near the city of Kut. Ali Shakir was abducted late Thursday in the city of Latifiyah, 20 miles south of Baghdad.