Iraq army day attack toll rises to 14

IRAQ, A suicide attack in Baghdad that three Iraqi soldiers tried to prevent by flinging themselves on the bomber killed 14 people, government officials said on Monday, updating an earlier toll.

The attack struck soldiers in central Karrada neighbourhood on Sunday as they were receiving gifts to celebrate Army Day, an official holiday marking the 87th anniversary of the founding of the army. Seven police and soldiers and seven civilian were killed, and 26 people injured, interior and defence ministry officials said, raising the earlier toll from nine dead and 17 injured.

US military spokesman Lieutenant Steven Stover said that, according to witnesses, three Iraqi soldiers were killed when they hurled themselves on to the attacker as he detonated his explosives. "They absorbed some of the blast. They saved a lot of lives," he told AFP on Sunday.

The US military said five people were killed in the attack.

An AFP photographer who witnessed the attack said that the suicide bomber detonated his explosives near a group of soldiers who were singing and chanting outside the building where the event had taken place.

"They were dancing when the attacker blew himself up," he said. "Then the Iraqi soldiers and police opened fire wildly. Everyone fled."

Baghdad, Monday, AFP