Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

    MOSUL, Iraq, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi police force foiled Tuesday a suicide bomb attack on their checkpoint in the city of Mosul, the capital of Nineveh province, a local police source said.

    The policemen opened fire on a suicide bomber who blew up his explosive vest near their checkpoint in the Yarmouk district in western Mosul, wounding three policemen, including one in a critical condition, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

    The policemen had suspicions on the man who was approaching their checkpoint and ordered him to stop, instead, the man ran toward them, prompting them to open fire and a powerful explosion occurred just close to their position, the source said.

    Nineveh province, with its capital city Mosul some 400 km north of Baghdad, is said to be one of the last strongholds of al-Qaida fighters in the war-torn country.