BAGHDAD, (Reuters):
TWO SUICIDE bombers disguised as senior police officers blew themselves up inside a ministry compound yesterday, killing 28 people in an attack that raises further questions about Iraqi government security.
Meanwhile, a French hostage headed home after more than a month in captivity, and Sunni Arab politicians hit out at the United States military, accusing them of targeting Muslim clergy and violating a place of worship during a raid in Baghdad.
U.S. officials said they were investigating a helicopter crash on Saturday night in the north of the country. They said it happened in bad weather and confirmed that eight of the 12 killed were military personnel, pushing the U.S. death toll in Iraq over the 2,200 mark.
The two suicide bombers managed to get inside the Interior Ministry compound in east Baghdad, as senior dignitaries, including the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, were at a nearby parade to mark National Police Day.
GAINING ACCESS
One was wearing the uniform of an Iraqi police major while the other was dressed as a lieutenant-colonel. Both had high-level security passes which enabled them to get through the main checkpoint to the compound, and would have allowed them to get into the ministry itself.
"We're dying to know how they got hold of these badges to enter the building," one police source told Reuters. "This is a disaster. We can't understand how they managed to get inside without being searched."
Once inside the checkpoint, Interior Ministry guards became suspicious of one of the attackers because of his bulk, and shot at him, detonating his explosive belt. The second bomber then blew himself up, causing more carnage.
Al-Qaida in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack, which left 25 people injured.
U.S. military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Barry Johnson, who was at the nearby ceremony, said U.S. ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad was unhurt and the parade continued as planned.
The ministry has been targeted by insurgents before and has become something of a hate symbol for Sunni Arabs, who accuse it of running Shi'ite Muslim militia - charges the ministry and its controversial minister Bayan Jabor vehemently deny.
Sunni Arabs are also angry about a raid by U.S. soldiers this weekend on the offices of the Muslim Clerics' Association, an influential group of Sunni scholars.
Reuters television footage showed spent shotgun shells and special explosive charges used to blow out door locks lying on the ground following the pre-dawn raid on Sunday.
