Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

    BAGHDAD, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- A suicide bomber blew himself up inside a mini-van in central Baghdad neighborhood on Thursday, killing six people and wounding 12 others, an Interior Ministry source said.

    "A suicide bomber wearing an explosive-belt blew himself up at about 12:20 p.m. (0920 GMT) inside a mini-van near the al-Rahibat Hospital in Karradah neighborhood," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

    It was not clear whether the attacker was heading to another target and the blast took place prematurely or that the mini-van was the target, the source said.

    Most of the killed and wounded people were passengers in the mini-van, the source added.