Suicide bomber kills eight at checkpoint near Mosul

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Suicide bomber kills eight at checkpoint near Mosul
By Drew Brown, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Wednesday, February 27, 2008

MOSUL, Iraq — A suicide bomber wearing a vest full of explosives killed himself and eight other people after their bus was stopped by police at a checkpoint west of Mosul, U.S. military forces in northern Iraq said.

The bus was en route to al Rabiyah, a crossing point on the Syrian border, when it was stopped by Iraqi police at a checkpoint in the town of al Kisik, about 27 miles west of Mosul. Police were checking the identity cards of passengers when the bomber blew himself up after exiting the bus, U.S. forces said.

A U.S. military transition team assigned to the Iraqi army confirmed that eight Iraqis were killed and eight others wounded. Three of the wounded were taken by helicopter to a U.S. military hospital in Mosul.

U.S. forces in Mosul said the bomber was affiliated with either al-Qaida or the Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella organization for several extremist groups.

“It’s frustrating that people have such fundamental disregard for human life,” said Maj. Gary Dangerfield, a spokesman for the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, in Mosul. “Today’s events are a clear indication that the insurgents do not have a productive plan for the future of Iraqi citizens, just one committed to stealing their future.”


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52861