At least one person was killed when a suicide bomber driving a garbage truck blew himself up on Wednesday near a Baghdad hotel used by Iraqi police and their foreign instructors, police said.

The blast, which wounded at least six people, was also close to the Agriculture Ministry building in central Baghdad.

Shooting erupted for several minutes before and after the blast, which sent thick black smoke into the sky and destroyed 20 cars.

Ambulances carried victims from the scene. A group of people carried a wounded man into the hotel. US troops sealed off the area.

Insurgents are waging a relentless campaign of suicide and car bombings in a bid to topple the interim Iraqi government and drive out foreign troops.

An Iraqi civilian about 400 meters from the scene picked up a large piece of shrapnel from the blast as fire trucks moved past.

(Chinadaily.com via agencies March 9, 2005)