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Iraq suicide bomber kills dozens Iraq suicide bomber kills dozens
(about 2 hours later)
At least 27 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack on a police headquarters in the Iraqi city of Baquba, north of Baghdad, police say.At least 27 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack on a police headquarters in the Iraqi city of Baquba, north of Baghdad, police say.
At least 20 people were hurt. Most victims were police recruits.At least 20 people were hurt. Most victims were police recruits.
Correspondents say the attack bears the hallmarks of militants al-Qaeda in Iraq, who often target recruits. Correspondents say the attack bears the hallmarks of the al-Qaeda in Iraq militants, who often target recruits.
Baquba is the capital of Diyala province, where some local tribes have recently joined US and Iraqi forces to fight the group. It came as US forces handed control of the mainly Shia central province of Karbala to the Iraqi authorities in a tightly-guarded ceremony.
On Sunday, nine tribal leaders from Diyala province were kidnapped while returning from Baghdad. Karbala is the eighth of 18 provinces to be transferred to local control since the US-led invasion in 2003.
Speaking at the ceremony in a sports stadium in the city of Karbala, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said the country had been slow to rebuild its security forces.
"Allow me to say that we are late, very late, to reconstruct, to rebuild our forces for reasons that I do not want to mention here," he said.
But he said this year would be the year of Iraqi security while next year the focus would turn more towards reconstruction.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says that despite the handover the situation in Karbala is far from perfect, with more than 50 people killed in August in clashes between Shia militias and the police.
Violence levels fallingViolence levels falling
Police said the bomber arrived at the scene of the attack on a bicycle dressed in civilian clothes concealing a suicide belt. Police said the bomber arrived at the scene of the Baquba attack on a bicycle dressed in civilian clothes concealing a suicide belt.
He blew himself up as recruits waited to begin the day's training session.He blew himself up as recruits waited to begin the day's training session.
Baquba's chief of police was killed in a suicide attack last month. Baquba is the capital of Diyala province, where some local tribes have recently joined US and Iraqi forces to fight al-Qaeda in Iraq.
The September attack happened in a mosque compound during reconciliation talks between Sunni and Shia groups. On Sunday, nine tribal leaders from Diyala province were kidnapped while returning from Baghdad.
But the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says levels of violence have generally been falling since a US troop surge began in February. Baquba's chief of police was killed in a suicide attack last month in a mosque compound during reconciliation talks between Sunni and Shia groups.
The US was set to hand over the mainly Shia central province of Karbala to Iraqi control on Monday. But our correspondent says levels of violence have generally been falling since a US troop surge began in February.
It will be the eighth of 18 provinces to be transferred to local control since the US-led invasion in 2003.