12 killed in Iraq violence

At least 12 people were killed and 61 others injured in two deadly attacks in central and northern Iraq Sunday, police said.

A suicide car bomber blew up his explosives-laden car at a police checkpoint at the entrance to an archaeological site of ancient Babylon, some 100 km north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, Xinhua reported.

The explosion killed at least nine people, including five policemen, and wounded 55 others. Many civilian cars at the crowded checkpoint caught fire after the blast.

In a separate incident, gunmen opened fire at a minibus carrying employees of the government-owned North Oil Company near the city of Tuz-Khurmato, 200 km north of Baghdad, killing three people and wounding six others.

The assault occurred in the early hours of the day when the employees had left their homes for work.