Three Iraqis were killed and four others wounded when a bomb inside a minibus went off in eastern Baghdad on Wednesday, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua.

"An explosive charge went off inside a minibus at about 12:15 p. m. (0815 GMT) in Fudhailiyah neighborhood," the source said on condition of anonymity.

The blast killed three passengers aboard the minibus and wounded four others, the source said.

Earlier, a roadside bomb hit a passing police patrol in Baghdad 's western Mansur district, killing a civilian and wounding two others, according to a ministry source.

"An explosive charge detonated at about 8:40 a.m. (0440 GMT), and a passing police patrol escaped unhurt, but a civilian was killed and two others wounded," the source said.

Insurgents have mounted attacks on U.S.-Iraqi forces and other targets in a bid to cripple the U.S.-backed Iraqi government.

Source: Xinhua