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The attacker, driving a Humvee vehicle packed with explosives
and likely stolen from defeated government troops, also wounded
60 Shi'ite militiamen, who had helped government forces retake
the town just south of the capital.
Holding Jurf al-Sakhar is critical for Iraqi security forces who
finally managed to drive out the Sunni insurgents after months
of fighting.
It could allow Iraqi forces to prevent the Sunni insurgents from
edging closer to the capital, sever connections to their
strongholds in western Anbar province and stop them infiltrating
the mainly Shi'ite Muslim south.
The group has threatened to march on Baghdad, home to
special forces and thousands of Shi'ite militias expected to put
up fierce resistance if the capital comes under threat.
(Writing by Michael Georgy, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
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