Twin bombing in Iraq kills at least 12: officials

Iraqi officials said two car bombs killed at least 12 people in a northern city near Iraq's Syrian border today, according to BBC, part of growing violence looks to threaten Baghdad's plans to host its first Arab League summit since 1990.  

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The attacks took place in the city of Tal Afar, home to a diverse population of Arabs and Turkomans and the scene of a deadly set of car bombings in December, according to AFP. 

Local mayor Abdul Aal Abbas al-Obedi told the Associated Press (AP) that the first bomb went off inside a car wating outside in a crowded restaurant and the other took place after people had gathered around the scene and a suicide bomber detonated his explosives. Some two dozen people were reported wounded. 

Violence has been on the rise recently in Iraq, said AFP, with nearly 30 police officers killed two days ago in an attack in the country's west.

The violence could derail plans for holding a landmark Arab League summit in Baghdad a year after plans to hold it there were cancelled due to security concerns and regional unrest, said AP.

The upcoming March 29 meeting is also set to be attended by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.