Two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the offices of two rival Kurdish parties in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil Sunday.
Kurdish officials said casualties were still being counted, but one minister said the death toll could rise above 100. However, US officials said at least 56 people were killed and more than 235 were wounded.
Earlier, reports said an unidentified person with explosives strapped to his body came to the meeting hall of the Kurdistan Democratic Party office and blew himself up, according to party official Mohammed Munif.
Among those killed were the deputy governor of Irbil province and the city's police commander, according to witnesses.
Munif added hundreds of people had gathered at the hall to observe the start of the four-day Eid al-Adha, a major Muslim holiday.
According to Mohammed Ihsan, the human rights minister for the Kurdish regional government, among the dead were also the governor of the region, ministers in the local administration and several top officials, The AP reported.
"These figures are estimates but I believe about 60 people were killed at the PUK and about 80 at the KDP. There are a tremendous number of injured," he added. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
