Car bomb explodes in Iraq

A car bomb exploded at an Iraqi police checkpoint south of Baghdad yesterday, killing five people and wounding 10, including two policemen. The explosives-packed vehicle had been left by the side of the road and was detonated remotely.

The area south of Baghdad, around Hilla, has been dubbed "the triangle of death" by US forces because of the frequency of insurgent attacks.

In southern Iraq a roadside bomb blew up as a British convoy was passing, killing two British security guards.