Four killed in ISIL suicide attack on Iraq party HQ

A suicide attack on a political party headquarters in western Iraq killed four people and wounded seven, including a candidate in elections scheduled for next month, officials said.

ISIL claimed the attack, which took place late on Saturday in the tribal desert province of Al Anbar, home to mainly Sunni Muslims.

A local security official said that two suicide bombers disguised as soldiers entered the headquarters of Al Hal, a leading party in the region.

One of the attackers detonated a suicide belt while leaders held a meeting at the campaign headquarters in the city of Hit, about 200 kilometres west of Baghdad, said Gen Qassam Al Mohammadi, head of army operations in the area.

“Three members of the security forces were killed and seven people, including candidate Zineb Abdel Hamid Al Hiti, were wounded,” Gen Al Mohammadi said.

A municipal employee on Sunday died from wounds sustained in the attack, the security official said.

He said the second attacker detonated his belt shortly after the first but did not cause casualties.

Medical sources said Mr Al Hiti was in hospital with slight injuries.

For three years ISIL ruled the province, which stretches from the western edge of Baghdad to the border with war-torn Syria.

In December, Baghdad declared victory against ISIL after retaking the group’s last urban stronghold in Al Anbar, but experts say the extremists are still hiding along the border with Syria.

Elections held in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003 and the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime have all been marred by deadly violence. But in the run-up to the May 12 polls the country has enjoyed a respite from violence.

A security official said the two suicide bombers were disguised as soldiers