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Car bomb kills 4 in Iraq on Christmas Day

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-25 17:02

BAGHDAD - A car bomb near a popular restaurant killed four people and wounded 25 in northwestern Baghdad on Christmas Day on Thursday, police said.

The explosion in the Shi'ite district of Shula occurred while policemen and labourers were eating breakfast.

The casualties included both policemen and civilians, police said.

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The Shi'ite-led Iraqi government had declared Thursday a national holiday to show what it said was its solidarity with other religious groups in Iraq.

Violence has dropped sharply in Iraq, where the US-led invasion in 2003 unleashed years of sectarian and insurgent attacks. But car bombs, suicide bombs and assassinations are still routine.

A week ago, twin bomb blasts killed 18 people and wounded 53 in central Baghdad.