Iraq Watch: March 24, 2007

A suicide bomber driving a truck full of explosives detonated next to a police station in Baghdad's predominately Sunni district of Dora Saturday killing at least 20 Iraqis and wounding another 30.

The truck bombing was only one in a series of attacks across the country Saturday that left over 60 Iraqis dead.

Despite stringent protective measures, the bomber was able to breach security by disguising himself as a construction worker and hiding his payload beneath a pile of bricks. The blast, which reverberated across the capital, left the two-story police barracks in ruins.

Situated in Baghdad's southeastern quadrant, the neighborhood of Dora has long been considered a militant stronghold and a bastion of unrest.

Saturday's violence comes on the heels of Friday's attempted assassination of Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zubaie. Al-Zubaie, the highest ranking Sunni member of Iraq's fledgling government, was seriously wounded yesterday morning when a suicide bomber detonated a bomb vest as the deputy prime minister was leaving Friday prayers. At least nine people, including several of al-Zubaie's close associates, were killed in the attack.

The Islamic State of Iraq, an al-Qaida linked insurgent group led by Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, claimed responsibility for the bombing chiding al-Zubaie as an "inferior traitor."

Other violence reported Saturday:

QAIM - Three car bombers launched almost simultaneous attacks against a
police station and checkpoints in western Iraq, near the Syrian border.
Intelligence officer Hassan Abed Mottar said 10 people were killed, including
seven policemen, and 18 more police were wounded.

HILLA - A suicide truck bomber exploded near a Shi'ite mosque in the town
of Haswa about 60 km (40 miles) south of Baghdad, police said. Hilla hospital
said at least nine people were killed and 43 wounded. Police said eight were
killed. The Babil provincial health directorate said 16 were killed and 45
wounded.

TAL AFAR - A suicide bomber in a market in the town of Tal Afar in
northwestern Iraq killed 10 people and wounded 3, the mayor said.

FALLUJA - The bodies of 12 people were found in Falluja, in western Iraq,
police said.

FALLUJA - Iraqi and U.S. forces clashed with gunmen in Falluja and a
medical source said four people were killed.

BAGHDAD - The bodies of 26 people were found shot dead in different parts
of Baghdad on Friday, a police source said.