10 killed in Iraq bomb blast

BAGHDAD - At least 10 people were killed and 15 injured in a bomb blast in the western Iraqi city of Ramadi Thursday, al-Jazeera reported.

The TV station said the attack had taken place at a checkpoint near government offices in the city, the capital of the predominantly Sunni province of al-Anbar, citing police sources.

Tensions in Iraq have been particularly high in the weeks ahead of the March 7 elections, particularly following controversy over whether some 500 would-be candidates originally excluded from the polls for their alleged ties to the banned former ruling Baath Party should be allowed to run.