Monday, September 26 2005 11:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Baghdad: A suicide car bomber attacked a police checkpoint guarding several Government Ministries as Iraqi employees arrived at work today (Sept 26, 2005), killing at least seven policemen and three workers, police said.

The blast, which occurred at about 7:50 a.m., also wounded 10 policemen and eight Government employees, said police Capt. Nabil Abdel Qadir.

The employees were just arriving for work at Iraq's Oil Ministry, Irrigation Ministry and National Police Academy, including some on a private bus that appeared to be damaged by the blast, Qadir said. In Baghdad, the Government work day generally begins at 8 a.m.

Employees at the three Government buildings, affected by the blast, often are searched at the checkpoint before they are allowed to walk to their offices about 100 meters away.