A suicide bomber struck a checkpoint manned by anti-Qaida fighters on Sunday night, killing 15 people and wounding 29 others, an Interior Ministry source said.

A suicide bomber on a bicycle blew up his explosive-belt at the local Awakening Council group members of the Sunni neighborhood of Adhamiyah, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The attacker hit the group members at their checkpoint near the mosque of Imam Abu Hanifa in the neighborhood, the source added.

Six of the killed people were members of the local Awakening council, including the deputy commander of the group who was at the scene during the attack, the source added.

Several of the group members were also among the wounded people, he said.

Sporadic attacks continue in Baghdad despite the US and Iraqi officials announced relative lull in violence during the past months.

(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2008)