BAGHDAD, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- An al-Qaida militant group in Iraq claimed responsibility for Tuesday's suicide minibus bombing against the government forensics compound in central Baghdad, the group said in a statement posted on the internet on Saturday.
"Baghdad Knights (Qaida suicide bombers) targeted the fortified building of what-so-called the forensics department and its related offices in the Taharriyat Square," the self-styled Islamic State in Iraq (ISI) said in the statement posted on an Islamic web.
The authenticity of the claim could not be independently verified.
The ISI latest claim is its second in the past few days for massive suicide attacks in central Baghdad, as the group already claimed the suicide car bombings at three hotels on Monday that killed at least 36 people and wounded 71 others.
On Tuesday, a suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden minibus into the building of the Interior Ministry's forensic department close to the Taharriyat Square in Karrada district, killing 18 people and wounding some 80 others.
Iraqi officials frequently accused Qaida militants of collaborating with the remnant of Baath party members loyal to former President Saddam Hussein to carry out deadly attacks to paralyze the government ahead of the country's parliamentary elections slated for March 7.
