Suicide bomber strikes city near Baghdad

Baghdad: Iraqi police say a suicide bomber detonated an explosives vest in a city northeast of Baghdad, killing seven people and injuring 20.

A police official says the attack occurred around 11:30 am on Wednesday in front of a courthouse in downtown Baqouba, the provincial capital of Diyala, one of Iraq's most violent areas.

Baqouba is 60 kilometres northeast of Baghdad.

The police official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press.