US troops summoned in Iraq attack

Plumes of smoke rose over central Baghdad after the bomb attack on a military training base

At least seven people died and more than 20 were hurt when suicide bombers targeted an army recruitment centre in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, witnesses say.

The explosions occurred outside the Rusafa military command headquarters at around 1100 (0800GMT).

The attack is the deadliest in Baghdad since US troops ended combat operations in Iraq four days ago.

The same compound was attacked by al-Qaeda in Iraq three weeks ago, when more than 50 recruits were killed.

The BBC’s correspondent in Baghdad, Gabriel Gatehouse, says there are varying eyewitness accounts of the incident on Sunday morning.

He says witnesses saw at least three suicide bombers attempting to storm the base on foot.

Two of the attackers were shot and killed by soldiers, causing two large explosions.

A third was injured, sparking a stand-off as soldiers tried to stop him detonating his explosives. But he too was later killed, our correspondent says.

The attack underlines the scale of the challenge facing the Iraqi security force, he adds.

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