Bomb attack on cafe kills seven

BAGHDAD - A car-bomb outside a cafe used by Iraqi police near the Australian Embassy killed seven people in Baghdad yesterday.

At least 20 other people were wounded.

The blast threw twisted metal, glass and body parts across the area.

It was not known how many of the victims were police staff.


Australia yesterday rejected an informal request from the United Nations to send more troops to Iraq to protect the organisation's staff before elections planned for January.

A spokesman for Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australia, which has 920 troops in and near Iraq, was responding to the UN request by giving equipment and training for Fijian troops being sent to Iraq.

"We're not contributing any more forces ourselves," he said.

Increasing violence in Iraq has raised concerns about a possible delay to the January elections.

President Ghazi Yawar has said the poll date is not set in stone and could be changed to ensure it is fair and comprehensive.

Downer last week called on the UN to boost its staff numbers in Iraq and to become more involved in the election.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan withdrew all international staff after a second bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad a year ago. The first attack a few months before killed 22 people.

- REUTERS

Herald Feature: Iraq