5 Police Killed in 2 Iraq Bombings

BAGHDAD — Two car bombs exploded near Iraq’s Interior Ministry early today, a police source said, killing at least five policemen a day after two similar bombs killed 12 Iraqi troops in the capital.

Today’s attacks took place at a police checkpoint just outside the ministry, the source said.

On Wednesday, a car explosion that killed eight soldiers at an Iraqi army base was followed an hour later by a second blast that killed four more at a checkpoint.

Separate clashes killed two police officers Wednesday, the Defense Ministry said.

In an Internet posting, a group led by Iraq’s most wanted terrorist, Abu Musab Zarqawi, purportedly claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s clashes and at least one of the bombings.

Guerrillas fighting to overthrow the U.S.-backed government have repeatedly attacked Iraqi police and soldiers.

As insurgent attacks continued, a soldier assigned to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force was killed in action Wednesday in Babil province, the military announced. No details were released.

Two other solders, assigned to the 1st Corps Support Command, have died this week from a vehicle accident that occurred Monday northwest of Tikrit.

More details emerged about Tuesday’s slaying of an Iraqi Special Tribunal judge and a family member in Baghdad.

They were Judge Barwez Mohammed Mahmoud Merwani and his son Aryan Barwez Merwani, a lawyer also associated with the tribunal, said another son, Kikawz Barwez Mohammed Merwani. He said gunmen in a speeding car raked the pair with bullets outside their home.