Iraqi police, soldiers among blast victim

BAGHDAD, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- At least 13 people, including police and army officers, died Thursday in a suicide blast in Ramadi, Iraq, officials said.

The bombing occurred in front of a government compound that houses the Anbar provincial council, the governor's office and police headquarters, The New York Times reported. Ramadi is the provincial capital.

Five of the dead were police and army soldiers, Iraqi security and hospital officials said. At least 26 people were wounded.

The bomber detonated his explosives at a compound entrance near a restaurant and an office of Awakening, a former group of insurgents who teamed with U.S and Iraqi forces in 2007 to battle militants.

"Al-Qaida is trying to paralyze the elections," provincial police chief Maj. Gen. Beha al-Karkhi told the Times, "but we will not allow them to do so."

Iraq has been rocked by an increase in attacks as the country's elections in March approach.