Baghdad suicide bomber targets Arab TV station

Four people are killed in Baghdad by a suicide bomber who blew up a vehicle by the offices of the Saudi-funded Al-Arabiya television channel.

A suicide bomber killed at least four people today in an attack that appeared to target the office of Dubai-based Al Arabiya television in Baghdad, security officials said. The bomber, driving a mini-van, blew up the vehicle near the entrance of Arabiya's office in Baghdad's western district of Harithiya, killing a cleaner and three guards, said Baghdad security spokesman Major Gen Qassim al-Moussawi. Arabiya TV also reported four people were killed and said none of them were reporters. The blast wounded at least 16 people, an Interior Ministry source said. Iraq is on high alert for insurgent attacks after a March 7 national election produced no clear winner and left the country adrift in political uncertainty. Overall violence has dropped sharply since the height of sectarian carnage in 2006-7. But daily bombings and killings continue, suggesting insurgents are trying to exploit the vacuum as political rivals jostle for power. * Reuters