BAGHDAD, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were killed and 14 others were injured in separate attacks on Friday in Diyala province, northeast of Baghdad, a well-informed police source said.

    Five people were killed and 12 others were injured in the firstattack when a parked minibus was ripped apart by blast in Khalis town in Diyala, about 75 km northeast of Baghdad, the police source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

    People were getting on the minibus to travel to other nearby towns when the bomb exploded on the bus at mid-day. Four women and three children were among the wounded, the source added.

    Several cars and buildings nearby were damaged by the explosion, the source added.

    Separately, two people were killed and two others were injured when a car were struck by a roadside bomb near Khanaqeen town in Diyala, about 60 km northeast of Baghdad.

    Diyala has long been the hotbed of insurgency since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, despite the ongoing security crackdown in the province conducted by U.S.-backed Iraqi security forces.

Special Report: Tension escalates in Iraq