A suicide truck bomber has struck the provincial headquarters of an Iraqi police commando force north of Baghdad, killing at least 10 troops and wounding 18 others, police said.
At least 20 others were killed elsewhere in the country including three civilians during fighting that broke out when Iraqi and US forces raided a Shiite militia stronghold in Baghdad early on Monday.
Residents said military aircraft were used in the raid, ostensibly to capture militants suspected of running torture cells.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki condemned the raid.
"I was very angered and pained," he said on national television, noting he had prohibited such operations "because we are in a national reconciliation process."
The force used was disproportionate to the mission's objective, he said. "That's why I have vowed that this won't happen again. I am so sorry for what happened."
Al-Maliki also promised the family of each killed person a grant of $1,360 and USD 700 for the injured, said the prime minister's adviser, Mohammed Salman.
The suicide bomber drove his truck filled with apples and bananas through razor-wire barricades into the two-story building housing the offices of the Interior Ministry's police commandos in central Samarra, police Capt Laith Mohammed said.
He said the truck's explosion killed 10 commandos and injured eight in addition to injuring 10 civilians.
{{/usCountry}}He said the truck's explosion killed 10 commandos and injured eight in addition to injuring 10 civilians.
{{/usCountry}}The building was virtually levelled, said policeman Mohammed Ali, who went to the scene with an ambulance after the attack.
He said three houses nearby were severely damaged and three cars were destroyed.