16 dead, 37 wounded in Iraqi violence

QANAN, Iraq, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- A suicide bomber killed 13 people at an Iraqi police recruiting station, while a car bomber targeted a Baghdad liquor store.

Twelve members of the Sawha Councils of Diyala were among the dead when a man detonated his explosives belt in the town of Qanan in Diyala province, about 40 miles northeast of Baghdad, Kuwait's official KUNA news agency reported Thursday. At least 10 people were wounded.

The BBC said members of the Sawha Councils joined forces with Iraqi and multinational troops in counter-terrorist operations targeting suspected al-Qaida operatives in Diyala. The center was attempting to recruit local Sunni insurgents.

In Baghdad, witnesses said a bomber parked a car next to a liquor store on Sadoun Street in a neighborhood of alcohol sellers and walked away, The New York Times reported. At least three people were killed and 27 wounded.

A Chevrolet Suburban driving by as the bomb went off took much of the force of the blast.

"There's nothing left to be targeted here, only poor people who buy alcohol and the unfortunate family in the Suburban," said one Iraqi policeman at the scene. "They were only passing by and got caught up in a tragedy on Eid, which is supposed to be a happy day."

Most of the liquor stores are owned by Yazidis, Kurdish speakers whose religion combines Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism.