BAGHDAD - A suicide car bomber struck a police checkpoint near the Iraqi Interior Ministry compound on Monday, killing at least three and wounding 14 others, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua.

The attack occurred at about 7:30 am local time (0430 GMT) when the bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into the checkpoint at the main road leading to the Interior Ministry compound and blew it up, the source said on condition of anonymity.

The toll could rise as ambulances and civilian cars were evacuating the victims to different hospitals and medical centers in the city, the source said.

Iraqi cities have been plagued by several attacks, including suicide bombings, since the US troops pulled out of the country earlier this month.