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Many dead in northern Iraq blasts Many dead in northern Iraq blasts
(about 1 hour later)
At least 18 people have been killed and 65 injured in several suspected suicide bombings in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, according to local police. At least 21 people have been killed and 65 injured in several suspected suicide bombings in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, according to local police.
Reports say one blast occurred close to the offices of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) - the political party of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. Reports say the main blast occurred close to offices of the main Kurdish political parties and a police station. Several police were among casualties.
A police station and jail were also said to have been hit by the blast, and reports say many injured were police. Hours later, a security patrol was targeted in an attack which left three civilians dead.
There has been a sharp rise in violence in the city in recent months.There has been a sharp rise in violence in the city in recent months.
Kirkuk is disputed by Sunni Arabs and Kurds, and correspondents say its final status is a sensitive issue in Iraq.Kirkuk is disputed by Sunni Arabs and Kurds, and correspondents say its final status is a sensitive issue in Iraq.
A recent dispute over the raising of the Kurdish flag over government buildings has also aggravated those divisions.A recent dispute over the raising of the Kurdish flag over government buildings has also aggravated those divisions.
Machine gunnerMachine gunner
A lorry containing a bomb exploded near a compound housing offices of the two main Kurdish political parties - the PUK and the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Kurdish President Massoud Barzani - as well as a police station, jail and TV station. A lorry containing a bomb exploded near a compound housing offices of the two main Kurdish political parties - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Kurdish President Massoud Barzani - as well as a police station, jail and TV station.
Eyewitnesses said the suspected suicide bomber fired a machine gun towards civilians before detonating the lorry. Eyewitnesses said that the suspected suicide bomber fired a machine gun towards civilians before detonating the lorry, killing 18 people.
There were reports of further blasts at the house of a local tribal leader and in a pedestrian part of the city. Two further blasts targeted the house of a local tribal leader and a pedestrian part of the city. No details of casualties have been given.
It is unclear what the main target was. Later, a car bomb exploded near a security patrol in the south of the city. At least three bystanders died and six people were injured.
It is unclear what the main target of any of the attacks was.