Iraqis killed as mortars hit homes
At least 10 people killed after mortar rounds strikes houses in Diyala province.
Women and child killed
The bomber detonated her explosive vest beside a police patrol near the gate of a government compound housing the provincial governor’s headquarters and a courthouse in Baquba.
Dr Ahmed Fuad of the Baquba hospital told the AFP news agency that eight policemen, two women and a child were among those killed.
The US military confirmed the bombing.
Baquba and surrounding areas have seen a series of suicide bombings by women over the past year.
Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, said on Monday that troops are to launch an operation in Diyala province, in a bid to drive out fighters from the area.
Diyala operation
Maliki made the announcement as he visited the southern oil-rich province of Maysan where a crackdown aimed at sweeping out fighters has been underway since Thursday.
Iraqi and US troops have already carried out similar operations in the main northern city of Mosul and against Shia fighters in the southern port city of Basra.
“We are proud to say that the Iraqi government, in spite of all the challenges that it has faced has been able to chase and confront al-Qaeda, outlaws and gangsters,” Maliki said.
“This success has been achieved from Basra to Mosul and next will be Diyala.”
Diyala, a stronghold of al-Qaeda in Iraq, remains one of the most dangerous regions in Iraq despite levels of violence nationwide hitting a four-year low.
Iraqi and US forces have been engaged in a sustained offensive against al-Qaeda in Diyala.