Baghdad - A female suicide bomber targeting a police checkpoint injured four people in central Baghdad on Sunday as the killing of members of the anti-al-Qaeda Awakening Councils by US troops continued to spark anger. The bomber, wearing an explosive belt, blew herself up at a police checkpoint in Karada in the centre of Baghdad, Voices of Iraq VOI news agency cited police as saying.
Several suicide bombings have been carried out recently by women in Iraq, the deadliest of which were by two handicapped women in Baghdad's pet market on February 1.
In Babil, members of the local tribal Awakening group staged protests Saturday evening against the killing by US troops of three group members Friday night in the village of Jirf al-Shakr, near Hilla, 100 kilometres south of Baghdad.
"US troops killed 19 members and injured 12 in about 45 days," Sabah al-Janabi, the head of the group in the region, was cited by VOI as saying.
"The troops claim after every incident that it happened by mistake," al-Janabi said.
Members of the council, who took part in the protest, said they would withdraw from the Awakening Councils.
The councils, made up of members of local clans in Sunni-dominated areas, are funded by the US military to clear their areas of al-Qaeda insurgents.
At least 19 members of the councils have been recently killed by US troops, which sparked anger and protests.
