A suicide bomber blew himself up on Wednesday in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil, killing at least 60 people and wounding more than 150. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

    Baghdad, May 4 (Xinhuanet) -- A suicide bomber blew himself up on Wednesday in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil, killing at least 60 people and wounding more than 150, local officials said.

    The bomber blew himself up at the local offices of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, which also served as a recruiting center for police.

    Police and security officials said a large crowd was gathered outside the building and recruiting centre when the suicide bomber struck. Enditem

    (Agencies)

Islamic group claims responsibility for deadly suicide bombing

   BAGHDAD, May 4 (Xinhuanet) -- An Islamic militant group claimed responsibility for a powerful suicide bombing in northern Iraq on Wednesday which left some 60 people dead.

   "This attack is in retaliation for our brothers who are being tortured in your prisons ... and a response to the infidel forces which surrendered themselves to the Crusaders and became a thorn on the side of Muslims," the group, calling itself Ansar al-Sunna, said in a statement posted on an Islamic website.

   The authenticity of the statement could not be independently verified.

   About 60 people were killed and more than 100 wounded Wednesday morning, when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the offices of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, which also served as a police recruiting center in the Kurdish city of Arbil, some 350 km north of Baghdad.

   It was the most deadly suicide bombing in the latest wave of insurgency since Iraqi transitional government was formed last Thursday.  Enditem