BAGHDAD, May 11 (Xinhuanet) -- At least 27 people were killed and 70 others wounded when a suicide car bomb exploded in a small market near a police station in former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit on Wednesday, police said.

    The bombing occurred at 7:15 am (0315 GMT) when security prevented the attacker from exploding the car in front of the police station. He then ran into a crowd of people at a small market nearby, police said.

    A policeman was among the victims. About 69 civilians and one policeman were wounded, according to police.

    Violence showed no signs of let-up in Iraq as a pair of suicidebombers on Tuesday killed seven people in Baghdad and insurgents kidnapped a governor in a western province demanding US pullout.

    On Friday, a suicide car bomber destroyed a police minibus at acheckpoint in Tikrit, 130 km north of Baghdad, killing at least eight people and wounding seven.

    The attack prompted US forces to step up security in the city, and local police and officials to announce a new rule barring anyone from driving alone in Tikrit. Enditem