A group led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi said today it had carried out suicide bomb attacks on the Australian embassy and two police stations in Baghdad, according to Internet statements.
Iraqis walk near a sign with the picture of al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
The statements from Al Qaeda Organisation for Holy War in Iraq said members of the group's "martyrdom squadrons" struck the three locations. At least 26 people were killed in suicide car bombings.
A truck exploded near the Australian Embassy in central Baghdad, killing at least two people and wounding four, police and witnesses said.
An Iraqi guard at the nearby Australian ambassador's residence said a man drove a truck cab, without a trailer, to the cement barriers in front of the embassy, then fled in another car that was waiting for him.
The truck cab then exploded, said the guard, who only identified himself as Hassan.
He said it appeared a new contingent of Australian soldiers guarding the embassy was not aware that vehicles were prohibited from parking that close to the building.
About 30 minutes later, a car bomb exploded at a police station, killing at least six, officials said.
A third explosion was heard and smoke was seen rising near the Green Zone, the heavily fortified compound housing the US Embassy and Iraq's interim government offices. It is unclear how many people were killed or hurt in this attack or in an other one at a bank in the capital, targeting police as they collected their salaries.
Agencies