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Car bomb kills four in Iraq on Christmas Day

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-25 18:49

BAGHDAD -- A car bomb near a popular restaurant killed four people and wounded 25 in northwestern Baghdad on Christmas Day on Thursday, police said.

The wreckage of a vehicle used in a bomb attack lies on a road in Baghdad December 16, 2008. Another car bomb near a popular restaurant killed four people and wounded 25 in northwestern Baghdad on Christmas Day on Thursday, police said. [Agencies]

The explosion in the Shi'ite district of Shula occurred while policemen and labourers were eating breakfast.

The casualties included both policemen and civilians, police said.

The Shi'ite-led Iraqi government had declared Thursday a national holiday to show what it said was its solidarity with other religious groups in Iraq.

Violence has dropped sharply in Iraq, where the US-led invasion in 2003 unleashed years of sectarian and insurgent attacks. But car bombs, suicide bombs and assassinations are still routine.

A week ago, twin bomb blasts killed 18 people and wounded 53 in central Baghdad.