BAGHDAD, July 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Two suicide car bombs targeted Iraqi police checkpoints in separate attacks in central and western Baghdad on Monday, killed eight people and wounding 35 others, police said.

    A suicide bomber blew up an explosive-laden car at about 9:35 a.m. (0535 GMT) at a check point outside the police commandos headquarters at the Al-Kendi Street in western Baghdad, killing two commandos and wounding 11 others, police said.

    "A suicide car bomber drove an explosive-laden vehicle at a police commandos checkpoint under the bridge of Harthiyah neighborhood at the edge of the heavily fortified Green Zone, killing two commandos and wounding 11 of them," a police source told Xinhua on condition of customary anonymity.

    Fourteen other civilians were also wounded in the blast, according to another police source, adding that the wounded people were evacuated to Yarmouk Hospital.

    Iraqi and US forces cordoned off the area, preventing even the police patrol from approaching the scene.

    Earlier, a suicide attack occurred when a suicide bomber drove an explosive-packed minibus into a checkpoint outside al-Sadir Hotel in central Baghdad shortly after the dawn, the police said.

    "The attack took place at around 6:15 a.m. (2:15 GMT), when a suicide bomber blew up an explosive-laden minibus into a checkpoint outside the Al-Sadir Hotel, killing six people and wounding 10 others," an interior ministry source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

    The source said that most of the victims were Iraqi employees working for a security firm guarding the building.

    The huge blast followed by heavy shooting and black smoke could be seen rising over the area.

    US and Iraqi security forces deployed in the area sealed off thescene as fire engines rushed to pit out charred vehicles and ambulances raced to evacuate killed and wounded people.

    On Sunday, Iraqi security forces reportedly expected a new wave of insurgent attacks in Baghdad to cripple the political process inthe war-torn country.

    "About 10,000 terrorists and numerous car bombs have sneaked into Baghdad from Ramadi," the commander of the 1st Iraqi Army Division was quoted as saying. Enditem