Suicide Bomber Kills Seven In Iraqi City Of Baquba

BAGHDAD (Reuters) -- A suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest has killed seven people and wounded 20 in Baquba, capital of Iraq's volatile Diyala Province north of Baghdad, police said.

A police official said the bomber struck at the provincial government compound as the mayor of the Diyala town of Khalis was entering the building. It was not immediately clear if the bomber was male or female, he said.

The mayor, Uday al-Khadran, was not hurt, the official said.

Baquba has seen frequent suicide strikes which U.S. and Iraqi authorities blame on Al-Qaeda Sunni Arab militants. Over the past year an increasing number of the attacks have been by female bombers.