A suicide bomber killed 28 people and wounded 57 on Sunday at the main police academy in Baghdad, the first major attack in almost a month in the Iraqi capital.

Many police and police recruits were among those killed when the bomber, wearing an explosive vest and riding a motorbike also packed with explosives, blew himself up at the back entrance of the police academy in central Baghdad, police said.

USA occupied the country in 2003 and maintains its occupation since then.

Police recruits have been a major target for attacks in the past.

"We know recruits are a favourite target for suicide bombers. We tell them to come in small groups instead of big groups, but they don't pay attention," an academy official said.

"This is the result -- a suicide bomber managed to infiltrate and explode himself," he said, requesting anonymity.

Under U.S. President Barack Obama's new plan, up to 50,000 U.S. soldiers would stay in Iraq until all U.S. forces are required to leave by the end of 2011.


Reuters

Güncelleme Tarihi: 08 Mart 2009, 17:10