BAGHDAD: Fifteen people were killed across Iraq yesterday, including seven by a bomb targeting a local leader of President Jalal Talabani's political party. The bomb exploded in the town of Qara Tappa in the restive province of Diyala outside the house of Mohammed Ramadan Eisa, a local leader of Talabani's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, officials said.

Eisa was seriously wounded in the blast but his wife, mother-in-law, his two children, one brother and two guards were killed.

The incident occurred when all the victims were standing in front of the house.

A local police officer said three more of Eisa's guards were wounded in the blast.

In Baghdad, a car bomb targeting a police patrol exploded near a market, killing six people and wounding 14. A woman was among the dead.

The explosion occurred in Baghdad's northeastern Shi'ite Al Shab neighbourhood.

The wounded also included three policemen.

In another attack in Diyala province, one civilian was killed and four were wounded when an army patrol was targeted by a roadside bomb.

Another civilian was killed when police clashed with 'rogue' members of a local anti-Al Qaeda group in central Baquba, an officer said.

Meanwhile, Talabani expressed support for the Turkish government, which is threatened by secular and nationalist opponents.

In an interview with Greek newspaper Eleftherotypia, Talabani said the power struggle between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and secularist forces, led by the army, was "worrying" for Iraq and a ban on the AKP would be "a step backwards".

Baghdad Mayor Sabir Al Isawi meanwhile, plans to resurface the multi-lane highway outside the city's international airport, instal street lights and plant trees to spruce up one of Iraq's once most dangerous roads.

With violence at a four-year low, now is the time to start work, he said at a ceremony to launch a $40 million (BD15m) project for the airport road.