Baquba (Iraq): A suicide car bomb exploded this morning (Jan 14, 2004) outside a police unit in the restive Iraqi town of Baquba, killing two civilians and the suicide bomber and injuring 29, medical sources and police said.

"Two people were killed and 29 were injured including 14 police officers," said Rafed Mohammed, a surgeon at Baquba's General Hospital, adding that the dead were civilians and did not include the suicide bomber.

The attack occurred at about 08:30 hours (11:00 hours IST) when a green Toyota forced its way into a guarded street where the civil emergency police unit and municipal government offices are located, policeman Haidar Ismail said.

"The guards tried, without success, to stop the car from entering the area, and the driver was able to drive up to the police unit before the blast went off," he said.

"I saw the remains of the car driver all over the place and the building was severely damaged."

US troops cordoned off the area and ambulances and fire engines were seen heading towards the explosion site.

The attack comes five days after a blast during Friday prayers in front of a Shiite mosque in Baquba, 60 km Northeast of Baghdad, killed five and injured 38.