Mosul: A suicide bomber blew himself up near a police station in northern Iraq today and killed four policemen, a day after 54 people were slaughtered in a twin attack in Baghdad.

The bomber attacked the Al-Waqhas police station in the Ras al-Jadha neighbourhood of Mosul at around 7:00 am local time, police officials said.

Four policemen were killed and 17 others, including 15 policemen, were wounded in an attack that once again highlighted the danger Iraqi security forces face.

"We have received bodies of four policemen killed," doctor Ghanim Ahmed at the Mosul general hospital said.

Another medic there confirmed admitting 15 wounded policemen.

A police officer said the targeted neighbourhood housed several government offices, including one belonging to the interior ministry.

The US military claims Mosul to be the last urban bastion of the Iraqi branch of Al-Qaeda and is involved in a massive operation there.

It says US and Iraqi forces have managed to dent the Islamist group's networks elsewhere in the country, especially in the west and the centre following which the group has focused on Mosul, the third largest city of Iraq.

On January 25,Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said a "decisive battle" against Al-Qaeda would be launched in Mosul.

Residents of Mosul, 370 kilometres from Baghdad, have been stocking up with supplies in anticipation of the battle, traders said.
Source : PTI