A suicide car bomber killed three policemen and two civilians and wounded 17 others in an attack on an Iraqi police patrol in Baghdad on Thursday, police said.

The explosion took place at about 7:45 a.m. (0345 GMT) in northern Shu'la district of Baghdad, when a suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden vehicle next to a police patrol, the police said.

More than 600 people have been killed as insurgents stepped up attacks against Iraqi officials and fledgling security forces amid a surge of violence since the new government was announced late last month.

Source: Xinhua