At Least 28 Killed In Attacks On Iraqi Interior Ministry

The attacks came during the celebration of Police Day (RFE/RL) 9 January 2006 -- Iraqi police say at least 28 people were killed today by a series of attacks against the Interior Ministry in Baghdad, including a suicide car bombing followed by the firing of two mortar shells.

The attacks came during a ceremony marking National Police Day, the anniversary of the formation of Iraq's national police force. Police Sergeant Abd al-Hadi Hasan suggested that many of those killed were police officers.

An Internet website claims that the Al-Qaeda in Iraq group headed by Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi was responsible for the attacks. The authenticity of that claim could not be immediately verified.

Also today, gunmen in Kirkuk assassinated an investigative judge.

In separate attacks in Baghdad, gunmen killed a member of Iraq's de-Ba'athification commission, an Iraqi intelligence officer, and a doctor.

U.S. military officials have confirmed that eight U.S. soldiers and four U.S. civilians were killed late on 7 January when an Army helicopter crashed in Iraq.

(Reuters/AP/AFP/dpa)