Bombings kill 14 in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Suicide car bombers struck two police stations north of the capital Saturday within half an hour, killing at least 12 Iraqis and the two attackers. Insurgents hit a civilian cargo plane with a surface-to-air missile, but the aircraft landed safely in Baghdad, a military official said.

U.S. officials warned of more attacks as the Islamic holy month of Ramadan nears its end, expected on Tuesday.

The car-bombing victims were all Iraqi police or civilians. A U.S.-based human rights organization accused insurgents of committing war crimes by targeting civilians perceived as cooperating with the occupation.

Elsewhere, an Iraqi police colonel in charge of protecting oil installations was assassinated Saturday in northern Iraq, part of what appeared to be an insurgent campaign against U.S.-backed security forces.

The plane, operated by the Belgium-based cargo service DHL, was the first civilian airliner to be hit by insurgents, who have shot down several military helicopters with shoulder-fired rockets.

The incident also highlighted the danger at Baghdad International Airport, which is a major U.S. military base and an entry point for supplies and aid. After the emergency landing, DHL, which has been making about three daily flights into Baghdad since June, suspended flights through Monday. The only commercial carrier flying into Baghdad, Royal Jordanian, also suspended its flights for three days.

The Airbus 300 turned around and made an emergency landing after its left wing burst into flames, and all three crew members — two Belgians and a Briton — emerged safely.

The U.S. occupation authority said it was investigating the cause, but a military official said a SAM-7 surface-to-air missile struck the plane.

Insurgents have downed five U.S. military helicopters in recent weeks using shoulder-fired missiles and rocket-propelled grenades, killing about 40 U.S. servicemen.

Northeast of Baghdad, the suicide bombers struck two police stations within 30 minutes. In the market town of Khan Bani Saad, a Chevrolet Caprice sped through a guard’s gunfire Saturday morning and exploded at the station gate, police said.

In Baqouba, 12 miles to the northeast, a white SUV approached the gate to a police station at normal speed but ignored orders to stop and then blew up at the checkpoint, witnesses said.

Three policemen and the driver were killed, and one policeman was missing, Lt. Wisam Ahmed said. At least 10 civilians were hurt. A coalition official said on condition of anonymity that five policemen were killed and 15 were wounded in the attack.

In Mosul, police Col. Abdul-Salam Qanbar, who was in charge of a police force protecting oil installations, was fatally shot Saturday evening while heading to a mosque, Police Lt. Col. Mosaed Nayef said.

Police have become walking targets in postwar Iraq because of their cooperation with the coalition and because they lack the defensive measures and the firepower of the Americans. There are about 40,000 police on active duty, with another 10,000 undergoing training, the coalition has said. Another 35,000 officers will be trained next year.