A suicide bomber has blown himself up at a military recruiting centre in Baghdad, killing at least 12 people.

A police official said the attacker struck this morning, and that at least 25 people were wounded in the blast.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but suicide attacks are the hallmark of al Qaida's Iraq branch.

Its fighters last week overran parts of two key cities west of Baghdad - Fallujah and Ramadi - and have been clashing with Iraqi forces trying to drive them out.

The attack on the recruiting centre could be a retaliation for the military's offensive.

AP

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