By Prensa Latina,
Baghdad : A car bomb explosion in Karrada, in east Baghdad, killed at least seven people and wounded 11, among them three policemen, a local news agency reported Thursday.
According to Aswat Al Iraq, the blast hit around 8 p.m. last night near a shop that sells soft drinks and ice cream in the Karrada neighborhood. Four cars were destroyed in the blast.
Meanwhile, at least 18 civilians were killed Wednesday in Baghdad when a truck filled with Shiite militia rockets accidentally blew up, U.S. military officials said.
Lt. Col. Steve Stover, a spokesman for U.S. forces in Baghdad, said Shiite militiamen were attempting to fire rockets at a U.S. base from the back of a parked truck about 800 yards away.
But he said the rockets, which were supposed to be detonated by a fuse or timer, exploded early.
The blast also wounded 29 people and destroyed 15 houses in a residential area around the truck, U.S. officials said.
Baghdad incidents took place while the United States and the Iraqi government are seeking an agreement to secure the presence of US troops in Iraq.
According to The Independent newspaper the occupation troops are negotiating a secret deal that will perpetuate military occupation of the Arab country regardless the outcome of the forthcoming election in US.
The Independent added that Iraqi officials fear that US military presence here with capacity to operate, arrest people and enjoy immunity will become a permanent source of conflict.