Suicide attack kills at least 12 in northern Iraq

A suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laded car into an army patrol in northern Iraq early morning today, killing at least 12 people, police and medical officials said.
The suicide bomber hit the patrol while traveling in a residential area in the city of Mosul, killing nine soldiers and three civilians, a police officer said. He added that 14 others, included four civilians, were wounded.
Mosul, 360 kilometers northwest of Baghdad, is one of Iraq's major flashpoints. A recent wave of bloodshed has killed more than 2,000 Iraqis since the start of April, the deadliest outbreak of violence in five years.

Also today, Iraqi officials put the casualty toll from attacks against two major prisons near Baghdad the night before at four soldiers and three policemen killed and 20 wounded.
Two police officers said the attacks started with bombs and mortar rounds at Taji prison, 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Baghdad. A suicide car bomber then attacked the main gate, sparking clashes between militants and the guards. Four soldiers were killed and eleven others wounded, they said.
In separate clashes at a prison in Abu Ghraib in Baghdad's western suburbs, three policemen were killed and nine others wounded, they added. Two car bombs and two explosives-laden belts were found later near the prison.

No prisoners escaped during either assault, they said. Three medical officials confirmed the casualty figures. They spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to release information.
More than 450 people have been killed so far in July, including at least 284 since the Muslim holy month of Ramadan began, according to an Associated Press count.