Latest Iraq suicide attack leaves 30 deal
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-12 21:15

A suicide bomber killed 30 Iraqis at an army recruiting center Wednesday in northwestern Iraq as Sunni-led insurgent groups continued their deadly campaign aimed at intimidating voters before a weekend referendum on the country's draft constitution.

A special session of parliament was called for later Wednesday evening to vote on a last-minute breakthrough on the constitution reached by Shiite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish powerbrokers, reviving hopes of winning Sunni support for the charter at the polls.

The suicide attacker set off explosives hidden beneath his clothing at the first of two checkpoints outside the recruiting center in Tal Afar, where men were gathering to apply for jobs, said army Capt. Raad Ahmed and Brig. Najim Abdullah, the town's police chief. They said at least 30 people were killed and 35 wounded.

The small town was struck Tuesday by another suicide bomber who killed another 30 civilians and wounded 45 when he plowed his explosives-packed vehicle into a crowded outdoor market.

In August, U.S. and Iraqi forces conducted a major offensive in Tal Afar, 93 miles east of the Syrian border, claiming to have killed 200 insurgents and driving many others out