8 Iraqi civilians killed in truck bomb

Eight Iraqi civilians were killed and four others were wounded in a suicide truck bomb explosion north of Baghdad that was followed by a clash between police and dozens of gunmen, an official said Sunday.

The Saturday afternoon blast occurred when police fatally shot a suicide bomber driving an explosives-laden fuel tanker and his truck blew up near police headquarters in Samarra, about 60 miles north of the Iraqi capital.

Immediately after the explosion, about 20 vehicles with at least 60 gunmen drove up to the site and fought with police, said a police official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to media.

The blast damaged at least 10 homes, most of which were empty, he said.

At least three police officers were wounded in the ensuing fighting, which ended after U.S. military helicopters flew overhead.

A U.S. military official in the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information, said the gunmen were armed with rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons. The official credited Iraqi police with preventing further casualties.